271474 Type 2 diabetes and cognitive impairment in older people: Findings from The Irish LongituDinal study of Ageing (TILDA)

Sunday, October 28, 2012

Siobhan C. Maty, PhD, MPH , School of Medicine, Department of Public Health and Primary Care, Trinity College, Dublin, Ireland
The rapid aging of populations worldwide creates an urgent need to understand the co-occurring burden of common health issues such as type 2 diabetes and cognitive impairment. Little is known about the distribution of these two conditions in the Republic of Ireland. This study uses data from The Irish LongituDinal study of Ageing(TILDA), the first population-based, representative study of older people in the Republic of Ireland, to assess the prevalence of type 2 diabetes and cognitive impairment, and any relationships between the two conditions, in persons aged 50 years and older.

Logistic regression models estimated associations between self-reported diabetes(yes/no) and cognitive impairment, measured using the Montreal Cognitive Assessment screening tool(mild impairment with scores <26 on 0-30 scale). At baseline (10/2010-07/2011), 8.1% of Irish people aged 50 years and older had type 2 diabetes (10% men, 6.4% women). Approximately 55% of the population had mild cognitive impairment, with no gender difference. The prevalence of both conditions increases with age.

The unadjusted odds of having type 2 diabetes was 1.74(95% confidence interval:1.41-2.16) times greater for persons with mild cognitive impairement compared to those without. After adjustment for age and gender, the odds were reduced to 1.38(1.10-1.74). Further adjustment for relevant health-related, social, psychological and behavioral factors helped explain the association, but did not remove it entirely.

Identification of factors associated with the the independent and combined burden of type 2 diabetes and cognitive impairment in older people is necessary to develop tailored prevention and treatment strategies for these conditions in aging populations with and without diabetes.

Learning Areas:
Chronic disease management and prevention
Clinical medicine applied in public health
Epidemiology
Planning of health education strategies, interventions, and programs
Public health or related nursing

Learning Objectives:
Describe prevalence of type 2 diabetes and cognitive impairment among older people in the Republic of Ireland Evaluate any associations between type 2 diabetes and cognitive impairment among Irish men and women aged 50 years and older Identify factors that may influence the association between type 2 diabetes and cognitive impairment in older populations

Keywords: Aging, Co-morbid

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: I am qualified to be an abstract author on the content I am responsible for because I designed and conducted all analyses, interpreted results and am preparing dissemination products.
Any relevant financial relationships? No

I agree to comply with the American Public Health Association Conflict of Interest and Commercial Support Guidelines, and to disclose to the participants any off-label or experimental uses of a commercial product or service discussed in my presentation.

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