Introduction and Objective: Hispanic/Latino adults in Puerto Rico experience one of the highest type 2 diabetes (T2D) prevalence rates in the US and an elevated risk of mild cognitive impairment and dementia, contributing to significant health disparities. Prior studies report biological sex differences in the T2D-cognition association with implications for tailoring interventions, but few have focused on Hispanic/Latino adults. This study examined associations between diabetes status and cognition among middle-aged and older women and men in Puerto Rico.Methods: We analyzed baseline cross-sectional data from 381 participants (women: n=269; men: n=112), aged 55-75 years, in the PROSPECT Neurocognitive Ancillary Study. Cognitive measures included the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE), Brief-Spanish English Verbal Learning Test (learning and recall trials), Word Fluency (WF), and Digital Symbol Substitution tests. Diabetes status was classified as normoglycemia, pre-diabetes, or T2D, defined using ADA’s laboratory-based values, self-report, and medication use. Sex-specific linear regression models examined associations of diabetes status (ref: normoglycemia) with cognition, adjusting for age, educational attainment, household income, and depressive symptoms.Results: T2D prevalence was higher in men (24.1%) than women (15.2%). Women with T2D had significantly lower MMSE scores (B=-1.22, SE=0.47, p < 0.01) than women with normoglycemia. Men with T2D (vs. normoglycemia) had significantly lower WF scores (B=-5.65, SE=2.07, p < 0.01). No other sex-specific associations were observed.Conclusion: Findings highlight distinct associations between T2D and cognition, particularly MMSE and WF, among middle-aged and older women and men in Puerto Rico. Future research is warranted to confirm our findings and inform targeted interventions for this health disparities population.
R. Calderon Perez: None. A. Marrero: None. M. Tamez: None. S. Mendoza: None. J.F. Rodriguez: None. J. Mattei: None. M.L. Estrella: None.
National Institutes of Health (R01HL143792, K01AG075353)
Source link
Leave a Reply