Type II diabetes and cognitive function. A population-based study of Native Americans

L P Lowe; D Tranel; R B Wallace; T K Welty

doi:10.2337/diacare.17.8.891

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Type II diabetes and cognitive function. A population-based study of Native Americans

Journal article

Peer reviewed

Type II diabetes and cognitive function. A population-based study of Native Americans

L P Lowe, D Tranel, R B Wallace and T K Welty

Diabetes care, Vol.17(8), pp.891-896

08/1994

DOI: 10.2337/diacare.17.8.891

PMID: 7956638

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Abstract

To explore the relationship between type II diabetes and cognitive function in older Native Americans and to assess the effects of other selected risk factors for cognitive dysfunction on this relationship. Cognitive function was assessed in 80 diabetic and 81 nondiabetic Native Americans who were 45-76 years of age in a cross-sectional population-based sub-study of the Strong Heart Study. Thirteen cognitive function tests were administered during a personal interview. Information about six other risk factors for cognitive dysfunction, including depressive symptoms, physical function, alcoholism, current alcohol use, hypertension, and myocardial infarction, was ascertained from interviews and from abstraction of medical records. Diabetes was associated with impairment on only two tests of cognitive function: verbal fluency (P = 0.004) and similarities (P = 0.010). Depressive symptoms were related to verbal fluency (P = 0.004), but did not explain the diabetes-related difference in performance. The effects of hypertension, depressive symptoms, and current alcohol use explained the diabetes-related performance difference on similarities. Cognitive function was not related to metabolic control (HbA1c level). We found little evidence that type II diabetes in this population of Native Americans is associated with decrement in cognitive function. Some of the cognitive impairment previously attributed to diabetes may be related, at least in part, to the influence of other risk factors. This should be considered in the design of future studies in other populations.

Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 - psychology

Depression - epidemiology

Cross-Sectional Studies

Humans

Memory

Middle Aged

South Dakota

Male

Reference Values

Cognition

Alcoholism - epidemiology

Hypertension - physiopathology

Female

Interviews as Topic

Myocardial Infarction - physiopathology

Speech

Aged

Alcoholism - complications

Indians, North American

Details

Title: Subtitle: Type II diabetes and cognitive function. A population-based study of Native Americans
Creators: L P Lowe - Department of Preventive Medicine and Environmental Health, University of Iowa, Iowa City
D Tranel
R B Wallace
T K Welty
Resource Type: Journal article
Publication Details: Diabetes care, Vol.17(8), pp.891-896
DOI: 10.2337/diacare.17.8.891
PMID: 7956638
NLM abbreviation: Diabetes Care
ISSN: 0149-5992
eISSN: 1935-5548
Publisher: United States
Grant note: 1-P20-AG09682 / NIA NIH HHS 5-T32-AG00162 / NIA NIH HHS
Language: English
Date published: 08/1994
Academic Unit: Neurology; Epidemiology; Psychological and Brain Sciences; Iowa Neuroscience Institute; Injury Prevention Research Center; Internal Medicine
Record Identifier: 9984002369002771

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59 Times Cited - Web of Science