High normal fasting blood glucose is associated with dementia in Chinese elderly

James A. Mortimer, Amy R. Borenstein, Ding Ding, Charles Decarli, Qianhua Zhao, Cathleen Copenhaver, Qihao Guo, Shugang Chu, Douglas Galasko, David P. Salmon, Qi Dai, Yougui Wu, Ronald Petersen, Zhen Hong

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

18 Scopus citations

Abstract

Background: Diabetes is a risk factor for mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and dementia. However, the association between high normal fasting blood glucose (FBG) and dementia has not been studied. Methods: Polytomous logistic regression was used to assess the association of dementia and MCI with FBG in an age- and sex-matched sample of 32 dementia patients, 27 amnestic MCI (aMCI) patients, and 31 normal controls (NC). Analyses were repeated for those with normal FBG. Correlations between FBG and cognitive test scores were obtained. Results: Controlling for age, gender, education, body mass index, Hachinski Ischemic Score, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) stroke, and normalized brain, hippocampal, and white matter hyperintensity MRI volumes; higher FBG was associated with dementia versus aMCI status (OR = 3.13; 95% CI, 1.28-7.69). This association remained (OR = 7.75; 95% CI, 1.10-55.56) when analyses were restricted to subjects with normal FBG. When dementia patients were compared with NC adjusting for age, gender, and education, a significant association with FBG also was seen (OR = 1.83; 95% CI, 1.09-3.08), but it was lost when vascular covariates were added to the model. FBG was not associated with aMCI status versus NC. Higher FBG was correlated with poorer performance on the Trailmaking Test Part B (P = .003). The percentage of dementia patients with high normal FBG (90%) was significantly higher than that of aMCI patients with high normal FBG (32.9%) (χ2 = 13.9, P < .001). Conclusions: Higher FBG was associated with dementia (vs. aMCI) independent of vascular risk factors and MRI indicators of vascular disease, and remained a significant risk factor when analyses were restricted to subjects with normal FBG. The results of this cross-sectional study suggest that a high normal level of FBG may be a risk factor for dementia.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)440-447
Number of pages8
JournalAlzheimer's and Dementia
Volume6
Issue number6
DOIs
StatePublished - Nov 2010

Keywords

  • Alzheimer's disease
  • Cognitive performance
  • Dementia
  • Diabetes
  • Fasting blood glucose
  • Hippocampal volume
  • Magnetic resonance imaging
  • Mild cognitive impairment
  • Vascular risk
  • White matter hyperintensity

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Clinical Neurology
  • Geriatrics and Gerontology
  • Psychiatry and Mental health
  • Cellular and Molecular Neuroscience
  • Health Policy
  • Developmental Neuroscience
  • Epidemiology

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