Glucose Peaks and the Risk of Dementia and 20-Year Cognitive Decline.

OBJECTIVE: Hemoglobin A (HbA), a measure of average blood glucose level, is associated with the risk of dementia and cognitive impairment. However, the role of glycemic variability or glucose excursions in this association is unclear. We examined the association of glucose peaks in midlife, as determined by the measurement of 1,5-anhydroglucitol (1,5-AG) level, with the risk of dementia and 20-year cognitive decline.

RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS: Nearly 13,000 participants from the Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities (ARIC) study were examined. Dementia was ascertained from surveillance, neuropsychological testing, telephone calls with participants or their proxies, or death certificate dementia codes. Cognitive function was assessed using three neuropsychological tests at three visits over 20 years and was summarized as scores. We used Cox and linear mixed-effects models. 1,5-AG level was dichotomized at 10 μg/mL and examined within clinical categories of HbA.

RESULTS: Over a median time of 21 years, dementia developed in 1,105 participants. Among persons with diabetes, each 5 μg/mL decrease in 1,5-AG increased the estimated risk of dementia by 16% (hazard ratio 1.16, = 0.032). For cognitive decline among participants with diabetes and HbA

CONCLUSIONS: Among participants with diabetes, glucose peaks are a risk factor for cognitive decline and dementia. Targeting glucose peaks, in addition to average glycemia, may be an important avenue for prevention.