The Effect of Type 2 Diabetes on Attention and Executive Functioning in Mild Cognitive Impairment Patients

Author(s)

Zachary Peart, Nova Southeastern UniversityFollow
Samantha Spagna, Nova Southeastern UniversityFollow
Bailey McDonald, Nova Southeastern UniversityFollow
Brittny Arias, Nova Southeastern UniversityFollow
D'anna Sydow, Nova Southeastern UniversityFollow
Charles Golden, Nova Southeastern UniversityFollow

Document Type

Poster

Publication Title

Archives of Clinical Neuropsychology

Publication Date

9-2021

Abstract

Objective

To investigate the effects of Type 2 Diabetes (T2D) on performance on attention and executive function measures in a sample of MCI patients.

Method

Individuals with a clinician diagnosis of MCI with T2D and [n = 719,Mage = 75.24,50.3% female] and MCI persons without T2D [n = 719,Mage = 75.21,47.1% female] were selected from the Alzheimer’s Disease Research Centers database by the National Institute on Aging. Those with motor disturbances were excluded from the analysis. Significant differences (p < 0.001) were found for race and education between groups.

Results

Multiple ANCOVAs controlled for gender, education, age, and race on performance. Significant differences (p < 0.001) were found in performance on the Trail Making Test [A, B], Digit Span forward [longest recall, correct trials], Digit Span backward [longest recall, correct trials], and Verbal Fluency tasks [F word, L words]. No significant differences were found in the animal and vegetable naming fluency tasks. The T2D group showed poorer mean scores on every test analyzed.

Conclusion

Results indicated modestly lower performance on measures of attention and executive functioning in MCI patients with comorbid T2D. Previous research supports these conclusions, as T2D has been associated with increased risk for dementia, accelerated decline from MCI to dementia, and modestly lower scores on cognitive tests via effects of microvascular function and altered glucose metabolism. Future studies should aim to identify protective factors in T2D cognitive decrements while controlling for exercise, diet, SES, and underlying medical comorbidities. The NACC database is funded by NIA/NIH Grant U01 AG016976. NACC data are contributed by the NIA-funded Alzheimer’s Disease Research Centers.

DOI

10.1093/arclin/acab062.37

Volume

36

Issue

6

NSUWorks Citation

Peart, Z., Spagna, S., McDonald, B., Arias, B., Sydow, D., Golden, C. (2021). The Effect of Type 2 Diabetes on Attention and Executive Functioning in Mild Cognitive Impairment Patients. Archives of Clinical Neuropsychology, 36(6).
Available at: https://nsuworks.nova.edu/cps_facarticles/1962