Cognition and type 2 diabetes : the interplay of risk factors

Type 2 diabetes is a risk factor for dementia. Over a period of twelve years, a more rapid decline in cognitive function was found in people suffering from diabetes compared to people who did not suffer from this disease. It was shown, among other things, that cognitive impairment in people suffering from diabetes was associated with high blood pressure as well as low blood pressure. In elderly women, larger amounts of fat and muscle tissue were found to be associated with a lower risk of developing dementia. In men, only larger amounts of muscle tissue were found to be associated with a lower risk of developing dementia. These findings could lead to new ways to delay or prevent dementia. Furthermore, it was shown that an impaired understanding of words was associated with the presence of cardiovascular disease, neuralgia and lower levels of physical fitness. Therefore, doctors should be aware of the level of education reached by their diabetes patients.