The relationship between type 2 diabetes and cognitive dysfunction: longitudinal studies and their methodological limitations
Abstract
Type 2 diabetes and dementia in the elderly are major public health problems. Cross-sectional studies have suggested that these two conditions may be inter-related, but the nature of this association is uncertain. Causation can only be established through studies with a longitudinal design, taking into account the many potential confounding factors in any study of cognition. A literature search has identified 10 studies (nine population-based and one of case-controlled design) that included a definable diabetic population and assessments of cognitive function at baseline and at follow-up. These 10 studies utilised a combination of domain-specific cognitive assessments and a clinical diagnosis of dementia in the assessment of cognitive function. Diabetes was associated with either an accelerated cognitive decline or an increased incidence of dementia in eight of nine of the population-based studies. One study demonstrated a relationship between diabetes and vascular cognitive impairment, but not with other types of dementia. No association between type 2 diabetes and cognitive decline was demonstrated in the case-controlled study. These studies provide compelling evidence to support the view that people with type 2 diabetes are at increased risk of developing cognitive impairment in comparison with the general population.
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Many of the studies suggesting diabetes is a risk factor for cognitive dysfunction were cross-sectional and unable to provide estimates of diabetes as a risk factor for future cognitive dysfunction.
“However, many of these studies were cross-sectional and were thus unable to provide estimates of diabetes as a risk factor for future cognitive dysfunction.”
From Cognitive decline and dementia in diabetes—systematic overview of prospective observational studies (2005) · cites this paper as [3]
Recent evidence from several epidemiological studies suggests that diabetes is a risk factor for cognitive dysfunction.
“Recent evidence from several epidemiological studies suggests that it is also a risk factor for cognitive dysfunction [3 -6].”
From Cognitive decline and dementia in diabetes—systematic overview of prospective observational studies (2005) · cites this paper as [3]
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- Authors
- Allen, K. V., Frier, B. M., & Strachan, M. W. J.
- Affiliations
- Edinburgh Royal Infirmary (GB)
- Western General Hospital (GB)
- Corresponding author
- Strachan, Mark W.J.
- Venue
- European Journal of Pharmacology
- Publisher
- Elsevier BV
- Published
- 2004-04
- Volume
- 490
- Issue
- 1-3
- Pages
- 169-175
- ISSN
- 0014-2999 (ISSN-L)
- OpenAlex
- W2021585613
- Cited by
- 319
- References
- 65
- Citations by year
- 2026: 2 · 2025: 4 · 2024: 6 · 2023: 6 · 2022: 11 · 2021: 12 · 2020: 12 · 2019: 11 · 2018: 20 · 2017: 13 · 2016: 20 · 2015: 17 · 2014: 27 · 2013: 17 · 2012: 20
- FWCI
- 1.60
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- European Journal of Pharmacology (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Topics
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Psychiatry and Mental health › Dementia and Cognitive Impairment Research
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism › Diabetes Treatment and Management
- Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Neurology › Neurological Disease Mechanisms and Treatments
- Keywords
- type 2 diabetes, cognitive impairment, dementia, cognitive decline, vascular cognitive impairment, dementia risk, longitudinal study, confounding factors, causality
- MeSH terms
- Cognition Disorders, Dementia, Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2, Humans, Longitudinal Studies, Neuropsychological Tests, Reproducibility of Results
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