Metabolic Syndrome, Diabetes, Poor Cognition, and Dementia in the Caerphilly Prospective Study

Article type: Research Article

Authors: Creavin, Samuel T.^a | Gallacher, John^b | Bayer, Antony^c | Fish, Mark^d | Ebrahim, Shah^e | Ben-Shlomo, Yoav^{a; *}

Affiliations: [a] University of Bristol, School of Social and Community Medicine, Canynge Hall, Bristol, UK | [b] Department of Primary Care and Public Health, Neuadd Meirionnydd, Heath Park, Cardiff, UK | [c] Section of Geriatric Medicine, Cardiff University School of Medicine, Academic Centre, University Hospital Llandough, Cardiff, UK | [d] Department of Neurology, Musgrove Park Hospital, Taunton, Somerset, UK | [e] London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, UK

Correspondence: [*] Correspondence to: Yoav Ben-Shlomo, University of Bristol, School of Social and Community Medicine, Canynge Hall, 39 Whatley Road, Bristol, BS8 2PS, United Kingdom. Tel.: +44 (0)117 928 7279; Fax: +44 (0)117 928 7325; E-mail: Y.Ben-Shlomo@bristol.ac.uk.

Abstract: We have examined whether metabolic syndrome is associated with intermediate risk of impaired cognition between people with and without diabetes. Men aged 45 to 59 years were identified from Caerphilly in South Wales, United Kingdom. Participation rate was 89% (41% of the original cohort) and 2,512 men were examined in phase one from July 1979 until September 1983. Follow-up examinations occurred at four intervals until 2004 when 1,225 men participated. Participants were categorized on the basis of their exposure to metabolic syndrome not diabetes (MSND) and diabetes (with or without metabolic syndrome) at each of the first three phases. Neuropsychological outcomes and clinical diagnosis of cognitive impairment not dementia (CIND) and dementia were assessed at phase five. The prevalence of MSND increased from 1% to 5% and for diabetes from 3% to 9% between phase one and phase three. 15% of participants had CIND and 8% dementia. People with diabetes, but not those with MSND, at phases one, two, or three had poorer cognition at phase five (adjusted β coefficient AH4 −4.3 95% CI −7.9, −0.7; phase two: −2.5 95% CI −4.7, −0.3; phase three: −2.3 95% CI −4.2, −0.5). The adjusted odds ratio (phase one) for diabetes and CIND was 4.0 (95% CI 1.4, 11.5) and dementia 0.61 (95% CI 0.07, 5.37). After adjustment, higher systolic blood pressure was the only component of the metabolic syndrome associated with worse cognitive outcomes. Diabetes in mid-life, but not MSND, is associated with impaired cognition and increased odds of CIND in later life.

Keywords: Cognition disorders/epidemiology, cohort studies, diabetes mellitus Type 2/complications, metabolic syndrome X/epidemiology, risk factors

DOI: 10.3233/JAD-2011-111550

Journal: Journal of Alzheimer's Disease, vol. 28, no. 4, pp. 931-939, 2012