RISK FOR NON-INSULIN-DEPENDENT DIABETES IN THE NORMOGLYCEMIC ELDERLY IS ASSOCIATED WITH IMPAIRED COGNITIVE FUNCTION

We studied cognitive function in normoglycaemic elderly subjects at di fferent risk levels for developing non-insulin-dependent diabetes mell itus (NIDDM) and in patients with NIDDM. Risk for NIDDM was considered increased if both 2 h glucose and insulin values on oral glucose tole rance testing were higher than the median in normoglycaemic subjects, and low if the respective values were lower than the median. The incre ased risk group showed impairment on tests of immediate and delayed me mory, attention, visuomotor speed and verbal fluency. Moreover, the in creased risk group did not differ from patients with NIDDM on any cogn itive tests. Our results suggest that increased risk for NIDDM is asso ciated with widely affected cognitive function in the normoglycaemic e lderly, highlighting the importance of healthy living habits.