Diabetes linked to higher dementia risk across later life
The hazard ratio, comparing dementia rates over time, was 1.29 for diabetes versus no diabetes; the association weakened at older ages.
In a prospective cohort study, researchers analysed 18,028 dementia-free adults aged 50 years or older from the Health and Retirement Study. They updated diabetes status over time and used an algorithm to classify new dementia cases. They also assessed risk in groups defined at six ages from 50 to 75 years.
Diabetes was associated with higher dementia risk. The association weakened at older ages but remained evident across the age-defined groups. An estimated interval exceeding 10 years since diabetes was first recorded identified groups at higher risk. The findings remained consistent after accounting for deaths that could occur before dementia.
Why it matters
The findings support considering when diabetes was first identified when assessing risks to thinking and memory in later life.
Caveats
This observational study cannot show that diabetes caused dementia. Dementia was classified using an algorithm, and time since diabetes was first recorded may not reflect its true duration.
The paper
Timing and duration of diabetes and incident dementia in older adults: a prospective cohort study
Alzheimer's Research & Therapy, 10 Oct 2026, CC BY
