Cognitive function in children and subsequent type 2 diabetes mellitus
- Gunilla M Olsson, PhD (gunilla.olsson{at}neuro.uu.se)1,
- Anna-Lena Hulting, Professor2 and
- Scott M Montgomery, Professor3
- 1 Neuroscience, Uppsala University, Uppsala; and Public Health, Örebro University, Örebro, Sweden
- 2 Endocrinology, Metabolism and Diabetes, Karolinska University Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden
- 3Clinical Epidemiology Unit, Karolinska University Hospital, Stockholm; and Clinical Research Centre, Örebro University Hospital, Örebro, Sweden; and Primary Care and Social Medicine, Imperial College, London, UK
Abstract
Objective: To assess if a diagnosis of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) by age 42 years is associated with prior cognitive deficits in childhood.
Research Design and Methods: Logistic regression estimated T2DM risk among 9,113 members of the 1958 British birth cohort; the National Child Development Study (NCDS). Associations with T2DM were estimated for general ability and reading comprehension assessments at age 11 years, modelled using standard deviation units. Adjustment was for markers of early-life exposures; social and material family characteristics; sex; and disability; with further adjustment for BMI at age 7 years.
Results: Adjusted odds ratios (with 95% CI) for T2DM (n=69) are 0.67 (0.51 to 0.87) for general ability and 0.58 (0.44 to 0.77) for reading comprehension. Neither additional adjustment for BMI, nor limiting the definition of T2DM to onset after age 33 years, altered the associations substantially.
Conclusions: Impaired cognitive function may precede clinical onset of T2DM.
Footnotes
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- Received July 19, 2007.
- Accepted December 7, 2007.
- Copyright © American Diabetes Association
