Takeaway
- Younger age at type 2 diabetes (T2D) onset was significantly associated with an increased risk of subsequent dementia.
Why this matters
- While the association of early-onset T2D with cardiovascular outcomes is well known, its association with neurocognitive outcomes remains unclear.
Study design
- The Whitehall II study, an ongoing prospective cohort study (n=10,095), established in 1985-1988 with clinical examinations in 1991-1993, 1997-1999, 2002-2004, 2007-2009, 2012-2013 and 2015-2016, and linkage to electronic health records until March 2019.
- Funding: National Institute on Aging and others.
Key results
- The rate of dementia was 8.86 per 1000 person-years in participants without diabetes at age 70 years.
- Similarly, rates of dementia per 1000 person-years were:
- 10.0 for T2D onset ≤5 years earlier;
- 12.99 for T2D onset 6 to 10 years earlier; and
- 18.3 for T2D onset >10 years earlier.
- Compared with participants without diabetes at age 70 years, the risk of dementia was higher in patients with T2D onset (adjusted HR [aHR]; 95% CI):
- >10 years earlier (2.12; 1.50-3.00);
- 6-10 years earlier (1.49; 0.95-2.32); and
- ≤5 years earlier (1.11; 0.70-1.76).
- Linear trend test (P<.001) showed a strong association between earlier age at T2D onset and dementia.
Limitations
- Dementia subtypes were not differentiated.
This clinical summary originally appeared on Univadis, part of the Medscape Professional Network.
