The results of a recent study published in PLOS One magazine indicate that older adults with diabetes from 50 years of age have a greater probability of cognitive deterioration and a shorter life expectancy compared to those who do not.
“A recent estimate suggests that diabetes is associated with a 40% increase in the chances of cognitive impairment among elderly people.The precise physiological pathways that link diabetes and dementia are not determined, ”according to Carlos Díaz-Venegas, of the Max Planck Institute for Demographic Research in Rostock, Germany.
Keep in mind that cognitive deterioration is an important cause of loss of independence, since it presents an obstacle to adhesion to medication and the results in the costs of attention are extremely high.According to researchers "policies aimed at improving results among people should inform cognitive impairment in this population of adulthood."
Crossing data from various studies and health systems, researchers studied the age of appearance of cognitive impairment and life expectancy with and without cognitive impairment due to the state of diabetes among medium and adults between medium and adults.
The total sample included 13,687 individuals between 50 to 74 between 2000 and 2012. Participants were interviewed through the telephone to measure their cognitive function.After gender stratification and control by age, education and race, the age of appearance of dementia and life expectancy was calculated with and without cognitive impairment, and the result was that the appearance is estimated from 50years.
The results show diabetes as a strong indicator of the increase in mortality and cognitive deterioration.For men, women and for most ages, people with diabetes had a higher prevalence of cognitive impairment than those who do not.
Since the age of 50, men and women with diabetes had a first incidence of cognitive impairment 3 and 4 years before, respectively, that those without diabetes.Diabetes decreases life expectancy from 5 to 7 years.Compared to individuals without diabetes, patients with diabetes lived approximately 1 year less with poor cognitive health.On the other hand, although education was highly protective of cognitive health, diabetes was related to a lower age at the beginning cognitive impairment and a lower number of years of healthy life.
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