Key result
Prediabetes linked to ~76% higher cognitive impairment or dementia risk in patients without financial strain.
Why the study?
Prediabetes is associated with cognitive impairment and dementia, but evidence on the role of social risk factors as effect modifiers is limited.
Is prediabetes associated with cognitive impairment/dementia, and is this association modified by social risk factors?
Cohort (n=11,943)
Yes
Is prediabetes associated with cognitive impairment/dementia, and is this association modified by social risk factors?
Odds Ratio: 1.76 (95% CI 1.33–2.34)
Prediabetes is associated with an increased risk of cognitive impairment and dementia, but this association is primarily observed in individuals without significant social risk factors such as economic instability or educational disadvantage.
Social factors may modify prediabetes-cognition links; leaves open confounding versus interaction in broader populations.
Introduction and Objective: Prediabetes affects 38% of U.S. adults and has been associated with cognitive impairment/dementia. Social risk factors may shape this association, but evidence on their role as effect modifiers is limited. Methods: We analyzed longitudinal data from the Health and Retirement Study (2006-2016) among adults aged ≥18 years with biomarker-defined prediabetes (HbA1c 5.7-6.4%) and no prior diagnosis of diabetes/stroke. Cognitive status was classified using the Langa-Weir algorithm. Social risks factors were assessed across Healthy People 2030 domains, including economic stability, education access and quality, healthcare access and quality, neighborhood and built environment, and social and community context. Generalized mixed-effects logistic regression models and random intercepts for participants were used to examine associations between prediabetes and cognitive impairment/dementia over time. Interaction terms between prediabetes and social risk factors were tested in adjusted models. Significant interactions were observed for economic stability (difficulty paying bills, employment adversity), and education access and quality (< high school). Stratified analyses were conducted for these social risk factors, adjusting for demographics and comorbidities. Results: The analytic sample included 11,943 participants (mean age 64.7 ± 11.0 years; 60% female). Prediabetes was associated with higher odds of cognitive impairment/dementia among individuals without difficulty paying bills (aOR = 1.76; 95% CI: 1.33-2.34), without employment adversity (aOR = 1.43; 95% CI: 1.13-1.89), and with at least a high school education (aOR = 1.46; 95% CI: 1.13-1.89). Prediabetes was not significantly associated with cognitive impairment among individuals experiencing financial strain, employment adversity, or less than high school education. Conclusion: Stronger associations between prediabetes and cognitive impairment/dementia were observed among individuals without economic instability or educational disadvantage. Disclosure O. Ekwunife: None. Y. Xu: None. R. Fraser: None. J.A. Campbell: None. R.J. Walker: None. L.E. Egede: None. Funding National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive Kidney Disease (R01DK118038, R01DK120861, PI: Egede; K01DK131319, PI: Campbell), National Institute for Minority Health and Health Disparities (R01MD013826, PI: Egede/Walker, R01MD018012, R01MD017574, PI: Egede/Linde, R01MD018721, PI: Walker)
No takes yet. Share an insight, caveat, or question.
Ekwunife et al. (2026) conducted a cohort in Prediabetes and Cognitive Impairment (n=11,943). Prediabetes vs. No prediabetes was evaluated on Cognitive impairment/dementia (aOR 1.76, 95% CI 1.33-2.34). Prediabetes was associated with higher odds of cognitive impairment or dementia among individuals without difficulty paying bills (aOR 1.76; 95% CI 1.33-2.34), but not among those with financial strain.
Synapse has enriched 5 closely related papers on similar clinical questions. Consider them for comparative context: