Diabetes Link to Thinner Cortex in Older Adults Highlights Need for Early Intervention

Strategic Insights -

Researchers have found that type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is associated with a thinner cortex in older adults, with the relationship being driven by poor glycemic control. The study, published in Alzheimer's & Dementia: Diagnosis, Assessment & Disease Monitoring, examined the association between T2DM and cortical thickness in ethnically diverse, cognitively unimpaired older adults. The results show that T2DM is correlated with a thinner cortex, with higher hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) levels being associated with thinner cortex in both diabetics and non-diabetics.

Key Takeaways:

  • The study found that T2DM is associated with a thinner cortex in older adults, with the relationship being driven by poor glycemic control.
  • Higher HbA1c levels were correlated with thinner cortex in both diabetics and non-diabetics.
  • The T2DM-cortical thickness association varied by self-reported ethnicity/race, with strong and widespread associations found in Hispanic participants.
  • The study examined a diverse cohort of 2171 cognitively unimpaired older adults.
  • The researchers controlled for socioeconomic factors and comorbidities and found that the association between T2DM and cortical thickness was independent of these factors.
  • The study highlights the need for early intervention and management of T2DM to prevent cognitive decline and dementia.
  • Amaryllis A. Tsiknia and colleagues at the Mark and Mary Stevens Neuroimaging and Informatics Institute conducted the research.

Statistics:

  • 2171: The number of cognitively unimpaired older adults examined in the study.
  • 17(2): The issue number of Alzheimer's & Dementia: Diagnosis, Assessment & Disease Monitoring where the study was published.
  • 256: The page number of Health & Medicine Week where the news article was published.
  • n/a-n/a: The page numbers of the study article in Alzheimer's & Dementia: Diagnosis, Assessment & Disease Monitoring.

Sources:

  • "Diabetes and cortical thickness in ethnically diverse cognitively normal older adults" (Alzheimer's & Dementia: Diagnosis, Assessment & Disease Monitoring, 2025,17(2):n/a-n/a).
  • NewsRx. New Research on Alzheimer's Disease and Dementia from Mark and Mary Stevens Neuroimaging and Informatics Institute Summarized (Diabetes and cortical thickness in ethnically diverse cognitively normal older adults). Health & Medicine Week. July 11, 2025; p 256.