Interactive effect of central obesity and hypertension on cognitive function in older out-patients with Type 2 diabetes

Abstract

AIM: Central obesity, hypertension and diabetes mellitus have been related individually to cognitive dysfunction. We aimed to study the interactive effects of these co-occurring risk factors on cognitive decline, which remain unclear in older patients with diabetes.

METHODS: We assessed metabolic profiles and neuropsychological functions in 60 older out-patients with Type 2 diabetes to examine the associations of central obesity with cognitive functions, while controlling for other confounding factors in these subjects.

RESULTS: Waist circumference was associated with poor performance in digits forward (r2 = 0.11, P = 0.02), choice reaction time (r2 = 0.08, P = 0.04) and cognitive reaction time (r2 = 0.07, P < 0.05) even after adjustment for potential confounders including age, gender, education and HbA1c. There were also significant interactions between central obesity and hypertension with respect to performance of digits forward (P = 0.04) and delayed verbal cued recall (P = 0.03).

CONCLUSION: Our findings suggest that, in addition to glycaemic control, central obesity and hypertension influence cognitive functions, such as attention and psychomotor speed in older patients with Type 2 diabetes.