The British Journal of Psychiatry (2010) 196: 36-40. doi: 10.1192/bjp.bp.109.067942
© 2010 The Royal College of Psychiatrists
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Risk of developing dementia in people with diabetes and mild cognitive impairment

Latha Velayudhan, DNB(Psychiatry)

National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) Biomedical Research Centre for Mental Health, and Medical Research Council (MRC) Centre for Neurodegeneration Research, Institute of Psychiatry

Michaela Poppe, PhD and Nicola Archer, PhD

Section of Old Age Psychiatry, Institute of Psychiatry

Petroula Proitsi, PhD

NIHR Biomedical Research Centre for Mental Health and MRC Centre for Neurodegeneration Research, Institute of Psychiatry

Richard G. Brown, PhD

NIHR Biomedical Research Centre for Mental Health and MRC Centre for Neurodegeneration Research, Institute of Psychiatry, and Department of Psychology, King’s College London

Simon Lovestone, PhD

NIHR Biomedical Research Centre and MRC Centre for Neurodegeneration Research, Institute of Psychiatry, London, UK

Correspondence: Correspondence: Dr Latha Velayudhan, PO Box 70, Section of Old Age Psychiatry, Institute of Psychiatry, De Crespigny Park, London SE5 8AF, UK. E-mail: Latha.Velayudhan{at}kcl.ac.uk

Declaration of interest

None.

Background

Diabetes mellitus is associated with cognitive dysfunction, but it is not clear whether the disorder increases the risk of conversion from mild cognitive impairment to dementia.

Aims

To determine the association between diabetes mellitus and dementia conversion in people with mild cognitive impairment (Peterson’s criteria) in a prospective community-based study.

Method

People over 65 years old were approached through primary care practices in south London, UK, and those with mild cognitive impairment (n = 103) were followed up for 4 years. Presence of diabetes was established from self-report and information from general practitioners.

Results

Nineteen participants progressed to dementia, with the predominant diagnosis being probable or possible Alzheimer’s disease (in 84%). Only diabetes mellitus was associated with progression to dementia (hazard ratio 2.9, 95% CI 1.1–7.3) after adjustment for sociodemographic factors, APOE4, premorbid IQ and other health conditions.

Conclusions

Diabetes mellitus increases not only the risks of dementia and mild cognitive impairment but also the risk of progression from such impairment to dementia.


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