Cited by 167Diabetes Treatment and ManagementDementia and Cognitive Impairment ResearchPharmaceutical Practices and Patient Outcomes

The DOI matches its Crossref record; 24 of the 26 references it cites were found in a registry or an index; none of the 18 sources its claims cite is checked for support yet.

Type 2 Diabetes and Antidiabetic Medications in Relation to Dementia Diagnosis

Cheng, Chin, Lin, Ching-Heng, Tsai, Yi-Wen, Tsai, Chia-Jui, Chou, Po-Han, Lan, Tsuo-Hung·2014·The Journals of Gerontology: Series A

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Type 2 diabetes (T2D) has been shown to increase dementia risk, but few studies evaluated the relationship between antidiabetic treatment and dementia. METHODS: We followed up 67,731 participants who were nondemented, nondiabetic, aged 65 or over at baseline from January 2004 to December 2009, to observe the onset of T2D (median follow-up 2.4 years), and to compare the risk of the development of dementia associated with particular types of antidiabetic medication among participants with T2D who had solely one type of antidiabetic agents throughout the follow-up period (median follow-up for participants with T2D 3.1 years). RESULTS: The hazard ratio for dementia diagnosis in the new-onset T2D participants compared with the non-T2D participants was 1.56 (95%CI: 1.39-2.18). The relative rate of dementia was 5.31 (95% CI: 1.89-14.96) for participants taking thiazolidinediones (n = 28) and 1.22 (95% CI: 0.78-1.91) for those taking sulfonylureas (n = 796) compared to those taking metformin (n = 1,033). The risk of dementia was higher in ever (n = 841) versus never users (n = 4,579) of thiazolidinediones: 1.44 (95% CI: 1.12-1.86). CONCLUSIONS: Diabetes is associated with an increased risk of dementia. The risk effect becomes weaker provided that participants take sulfonylureas or metformin rather than thiazolidinediones for a longer period.

Overview

AI snapshot

Written from the paper’s full text.

TL;DR

In a Taiwanese population-based cohort of adults aged 65 or older, new-onset type 2 diabetes was associated with a higher risk of dementia. Among participants with type 2 diabetes, thiazolidinedione use was associated with a substantially higher dementia rate than metformin, while sulfonylurea use was not significantly different from metformin.

Key findings

  • New-onset type 2 diabetes was associated with dementia diagnosis: adjusted HR 1.56 (95% CI 1.39–2.18) versus non-diabetic participants. Dementia rate was 1.78 cases per 100 person-years in T2D participants (n = 147), 1.26 times higher than in non-T2D participants (n = 4,650).
  • Among T2D participants taking only one antidiabetic medication, thiazolidinedione users had a higher dementia rate than metformin users: relative rate 5.31 (95% CI 1.89–14.96). Sulfonylurea users did not differ significantly from metformin users: 1.22 (95% CI 0.78–1.91). At study end, dementia was diagnosed in 4/28 TZD users (14.3%), 39/1,033 MET users (3.8%), and 40/796 SU users (5.0%).
  • In a separate comparison among T2D participants, any-use of thiazolidinediones versus never-use was associated with dementia: HR 1.44 (95% CI 1.12–1.86).
  • In analysis one, hypertension (HR 1.19, 95% CI 1.13–1.25), cerebrovascular disease (HR 1.44, 95% CI 1.33–1.56), and depression (HR 2.12, 95% CI 1.88–2.39) were independently associated with higher dementia risk; hyperlipidemia was not significantly associated.

Methods

  • Population-based cohort using Taiwan’s National Health Insurance Research Database / Longitudinal Health Insurance Database 2005. The study followed 67,731 participants aged 65 or older who were dementia-free and T2D-free at baseline in January 2004 through December 2009; median follow-up was 2.4 years for T2D onset and 3.1 years for participants with T2D.
  • Four main analyses examined: (1) T2D in relation to dementia; (2) the three most common antidiabetic agents among new-onset T2D participants using solely one medication type and no insulin throughout follow-up (n = 1,857: MET n = 1,033; SUs n = 796; TZDs n = 28); (3) any TZD use (n = 841) versus never-use (n = 4,579); and (4) duration/adherence of medication use.
  • Cox proportional hazards regression models were adjusted for age, sex, hypertension, hyperlipidemia, and cerebrovascular disease; Kaplan-Meier survival curves and chi-squared or t tests were also used. Diagnoses were based on ICD-9-CM codes, with dementia defined as at least two dementia diagnosis records within any 1 year and new-onset T2D defined by outpatient/inpatient diagnosis plus oral antidiabetic medication for at least three months.

Limitations

  • The authors state selection bias is an important limitation because this was database research rather than a randomized trial; antidiabetic medication selection could be influenced by patients’ clinical condition and physicians’ preferences. They also state they lacked data on HbA1c, drinking, or smoking, and the sample was not large enough for meaningful subgroup analyses stratified by major comorbidities.
  • The authors state the follow-up period was relatively short for a chronic disease like dementia, though they argue the median 3.1-year follow-up from T2D onset was reasonable based on prior studies; longer follow-up would make associations more definitive.
  • The authors caution that results should be interpreted with caution given the observational design and the relatively small number of TZD users; in analysis two, depression was not included in the regression model because of an inadequate number of cases.

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Integrity signals

Registry

Crossref · 10.1093/gerona/glu073

Cites

24 of 24 references verified0 citation errors · 0 not checkable

Statistics

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Verification

Claims the paper makes

11 Not checked yet · 6 Own method · 6 Own interpretation · 5 Own result

Verify all 18 references — free account

Show all 15 claims

  • It may state two separate claims as one. 8
  • Probably not a substantial claim. 6
13 of 13
  • The paper relies on this without support.

    Few studies have explored the association between antidiabetic medications and dementia, and their findings remain controversial.

    “Few studies have explored the association between antidiabetic medications and dementia, and their findings remain controversial.”
  • The paper relies on this without support.

    Thiazolidinediones have potent insulin-sensitizing and anti-inflammatory effects that suggest they may theoretically decrease the risk of Alzheimer's disease.

    “Although the pharmacological mechanisms of thiazolidinediones (TZDs),the potent insulin-sensitizing and anti-inflammatory effects, suggest that they may theoretically decrease the risk of AD”
  • The paper relies on this without support.

    Sulfonylureas act by increasing blood insulin levels and are not supposed to be advantageous for cognition on a pharmacological basis.

    “As for SUs, because they act by increasing blood insulin levels, they are not supposed to be advantageous for cognition on a pharmacological basis.”
3 of 3

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1 of 1

Citations

Cites

Show all 26 references

Research works printed but not linked: 1

  1. Database NHIR, 2007, Introduction to the National Health Insurance Research Database (NHIRD)

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Metadata

Authors
Cheng, C., Lin, C.-H., Tsai, Y.-W., Tsai, C.-J., Chou, P.-H., & Lan, T.-H.
Affiliations
  • University of Cambridge (GB)
  • Taichung Veterans General Hospital (TW)
  • National Health Research Institutes (TW)
  • Changhua Christian Hospital (TW)
Corresponding author
Lan, Tsuo-Hung
Venue
The Journals of Gerontology: Series A
Published
2014-06-04
Volume
69
Issue
10
Pages
1299-1305
ISSN
  • 1079-5006 (ISSN-L)
  • 1758-535X
OpenAlex
W2097594110
Cited by
167
References
26
Citations by year
2026: 5 · 2025: 10 · 2024: 4 · 2023: 18 · 2022: 20 · 2021: 21 · 2020: 24 · 2019: 23 · 2018: 15 · 2017: 8 · 2016: 9 · 2015: 5 · 2014: 3
FWCI
6.71
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
closed
Locations
  • The Journals of Gerontology Series A (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
Funders
National Health Research Institutes
Topics
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism › Diabetes Treatment and Management
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Psychiatry and Mental health › Dementia and Cognitive Impairment Research
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Geriatrics and Gerontology › Pharmaceutical Practices and Patient Outcomes
Keywords
type 2 diabetes, dementia, antidiabetic drugs, thiazolidinediones, sulfonylureas, metformin, dementia risk, older adults, duration of drug use
MeSH terms
Aged, Dementia, Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2, Female, Humans, Hypoglycemic Agents, Male, Middle Aged, Proportional Hazards Models

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