| Poster | Poster Session 06 Program Schedule
02/15/2024
04:00 pm - 05:15 pm
Room: Shubert Complex (Posters 1-60)
Poster Session 06: Aging | MCI | Neurodegenerative Disease - PART 2
Final Abstract #49
Midlife Glucose Levels Predict Cognitive Changes: The Framingham Heart Study (FHS)
Ashita Gurnani, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, United States
Qiushan Tao, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, United States
Preeti Sunderaraman, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, United States
Ting Fang Alvin Ang, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, United States
Xiaoling Zhang, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, United States
Wei Qiao Qiu, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, United States
Ileana De Anda-Duran, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, United States
Jesse Mez, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, United States
Rhoda Au, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, United States
Category: Aging
Keyword 1: diabetes
Keyword 2: aging (normal)
Keyword 3: cognitive functioning
Objective:
In comparison to the well-established link between diabetes and dementia, relatively less is known about the relationship between fasting blood glucose (FBG) and cognition in the absence of these conditions. Some studies have shown that FBG is associated with poor executive functioning and memory performances, whereas others have not found any significant relationship between FBG and cognitive performance. The inconsistency in findings has been attributed to limited longitudinal studies as well as methodological heterogeneity such as inclusion of individuals with diabetes and/or dementia at baseline, variable sample sizes, differences in age at time of FBG measurement, and variability in outcome measurements. Thus, the current study aimed at examining the relationship between midlife FBG and cognitive functioning in a sample of community dwelling adults.
Participants and Methods:
The study sample was comprised of participants from the FHS Offspring Cohort (n= 1853; Mage = 59.9 years ± 9.2; 56% female; 72% ≥ college education) without diabetes and dementia at baseline (i.e. Core Exam 7; years 1998 - 2001) who participated in more than one neuropsychological assessment and were followed over an average of 7.8 (SD= 5.9) years. Linear mixed effects models were used to examine the relationship between baseline FBG levels and cognitive domain factor scores (language, memory, and executive functioning) calculated from each neuropsychological assessment. FBG was dichotomized (high ≥ 100 mg/dL and low FBG < 100 mg/dL), while cognitive domain factors scores were continuous variables.
Results:
The rate of decline in executive function (𝛽 = -0.004; CI [-0.006, -0.001], p = 0.012) and memory (𝛽 =-0.003, [-0.006, -0.001], p = 0.013) performance was faster for those with high FBG in comparison to low FBG, after adjusting for age, sex, education, ApOE4 carrier status, and several vascular risk factors. This association was driven by ApoE4 carriers exhibiting a faster rate of decline in executive function (𝛽 =-0.009; [-0.015, -0.002], p = 0.008) and memory (𝛽 = -0.008, [-0.015, -0.002], p = 0.011) domain factor scores than non-carriers.
Conclusions:
This study showed that high FBG levels in midlife in the absence of a diagnosis of diabetes are associated with a faster rate of decline in executive functioning and memory performances but not in language. Individuals with one or two APOE ε4 alleles are at greater risk of cognitive decline than non-carriers. Findings highlight the need to consider individuals with high blood glucose levels without an established diagnosis of diabetes at increased risk for cognitive impairment.
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