Originally published December 18 2005
Diabetes study lowers the age at which the disease affects cognitive function
by Mike Adams, the Health Ranger, NaturalNews Editor
Dr. Meena Kumari and her colleague Dr. Michael Marmot, from the International Center for Health and Society in London, claim that diabetes impairs cognitive function in middle-aged adults, not just in the elderly, as was once believed.
NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - While several studies have demonstrated poorer cognitive function in older adults with type 2 diabetes compared to older adults without diabetes, a new study in the current issue of Neurology extends this association to middle-aged adults with diabetes.
This is important for two reasons, study author Dr. Meena Kumari told Reuters Health.
"Firstly, diabetes is associated with poorer cognitive performance in younger age groups, which suggests that diabetes itself is associated with cognitive decline.
Secondly, as the incidence of diabetes in younger age groups is increasing, this has implications for the management of diabetes in these groups."
It is also worth noting, Kumari continued that, "we found a poorer cognitive function score in those that had been diagnosed (with diabetes) as early as two to five years previously and that it was explained by the metabolic abnormalities associated with diabetes."
For their research, Kumari and her colleague Dr. Michael Marmot, both from the International Center for Health and Society in London, UK, examined ties between diabetes and cognitive performance in 4,020 men and 1,627 women whose average age was 56.
These individuals were participants in a study that began in 1985-1988.
Diabetes, but not impaired glucose tolerance, was associated with a significant decrement in cognitive function, Kumari and Marmot report.
For example, the odds of performing poorly on a test of inductive reasoning was 2.45 in men with diabetes and 1.83 in women with diabetes compared to those without.
This relationship was not explained by confounding by age, health-related behaviors, or hypertension (high blood pressure).
All content posted on this site is commentary or opinion and is protected under Free Speech. Truth Publishing LLC takes sole responsibility for all content. Truth Publishing sells no hard products and earns no money from the recommendation of products. NaturalNews.com is presented for educational and commentary purposes only and should not be construed as professional advice from any licensed practitioner. Truth Publishing assumes no responsibility for the use or misuse of this material. For the full terms of usage of this material, visit www.NaturalNews.com/terms.shtml