Home › Research › Getting a diagnosis
Cognitive decline and dementia in diabetes--systematic overview of prospective observational studies
Cukierman T, Gerstein HC, Williamson JD.. Diabetologia, 2005-11-08
Topic: Risk, prevention and care in population studies
Plain-language summary
Aims/hypothesis We systematically reviewed and summarised prospective data relating diabetes status to changes in cognitive function over time. Methods Published reports of longitudinal studies that described assessment of cognitive function in people with diabetes were sought. Studies were included if they assessed cognitive function in participants with diabetes at the beginning and at follow-up. Studies were excluded if they had (1) a follow-up period of less than 1 year, (2) a rate of loss to follow-up in excess of 30%, or (3) described selected subgroups. Change in cognitive function was recorded as either the mean change in score and/or the proportion of individuals developing various degrees of change in cognitive function. A pooled estimate was calculated for the latter. Results Of 1,165 abstracts and titles initially identified, 25 articles met the inclusion and exclusion criteria. Individuals with diabetes had a 1.2- to 1.5-fold greater change over time in measures of cognitive function than those without diabetes. When assessed by the Mini-Mental State Exam and the Digit Symbol Span tests, a diagnosis of diabetes increased the odds of cognitive decline 1.2-fold (95% CI 1.05-1.4) and 1.7-fold (95% CI 1.3-2.3), respectively . The odds of future dementia increased 1.6-fold (95% CI 1.4-1.8). Conclusions/interpretation Compared to people without diabetes, people with diabetes have a greater rate of decline in cognitive function and a greater risk of cognitive decline. Cognitive dysfunction should therefore be added to the list of chronic complications of diabetes.
What this study adds
Evidence grade: Moderate
This is a follow-up (cohort) study. This review of prospective studies found that people with diabetes have a greater rate of decline in cognitive function and a greater risk of cognitive decline and future dementia than people without diabetes. It reports an association only and does not show that treating diabetes prevents dementia.
Taken from this record’s own fields, not from reading the paper. The grade is assigned from the abstract’s wording; what that means.
Cite this study APA, Vancouver, BibTeX · download .bib or .ris
APA 7th
Cukierman, T., Gerstein, H. C., & Williamson, J. D. (2005). Cognitive decline and dementia in diabetes--systematic overview of prospective observational studies. Diabetologia. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00125-005-0023-4
Vancouver
Cukierman T, Gerstein HC, Williamson JD. Cognitive decline and dementia in diabetes--systematic overview of prospective observational studies. Diabetologia. 2005. doi:10.1007/s00125-005-0023-4. PMID: 16283246.
BibTeX
@article{cukierman2005-16283246,
author = {Cukierman, T. and Gerstein, H. C. and Williamson, J. D.},
title = {{Cognitive decline and dementia in diabetes--systematic overview of prospective observational studies}},
journal = {Diabetologia},
year = {2005},
doi = {10.1007/s00125-005-0023-4},
pmid = {16283246},
url = {https://doi.org/10.1007/s00125-005-0023-4}
}
Built from the record alzhub holds for this paper, not looked up. Volume, issue and page numbers are not held in the record. Check the citation against the original before you use it.
Key findings
- Results Of 1,165 abstracts and titles initially identified, 25 articles met the inclusion and exclusion criteria.
- Conclusions/interpretation Compared to people without diabetes, people with diabetes have a greater rate of decline in cognitive function and a greater risk of cognitive decline.
Why it matters
This review of prospective studies found that people with diabetes have a greater rate of decline in cognitive function and a greater risk of cognitive decline and future dementia than people without diabetes. It reports an association only and does not show that treating diabetes prevents dementia.
New to this subject? Start with our plain-English guide: Getting a diagnosis →
Study details
- Study designlongitudinal study
- Evidence strengthModerate
How this study scored 61/100
Published in a peer-reviewed journal, and it is a longitudinal study following the same people over time. Scored zero for sample size, effect reported, studied in people and randomized / blinded because the record does not state it.
| Component | Points | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Journal tier | 7 / 10 | Tier 3 — peer-reviewed journal (Diabetologia) |
| Journal's citation record | 3 / 4 | Diabetologia: journal h-index 337 (OpenAlex, 2026-10-29) |
| Study design | 7 / 12 | A longitudinal study following the same people over time |
| Strength of evidence | 3 / 5 | Rated “moderate” in our summary |
| Peer-review validation | 10 / 10 | Peer-reviewed. Published as an article in a named peer-reviewed journal. |
| How recent | 1 / 5 | 2005 — older than 20 years, still counted |
| Sample size | 0 / 4 | Participant count not stated — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Effect reported | 0 / 3 | No effect size reported — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Studied in people | 0 / 3 | Not stated whether this was studied in people — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Randomized / blinded | 0 / 2 | No randomization or blinding stated — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Times cited | 7 / 7 | Cited 1,053 times (OpenAlex, 2026-10-10) |
| Citations per year | 4 / 5 | 45.8 citations a year over 23 year(s) since 2005 |
| Impact for its field and year | 4 / 6 | Cited 11.0× the average for papers of its field and year (OpenAlex FWCI) |
| Cited by studies here | 3 / 6 | Cited by 24 other studies in this library |
| Still being cited | 3 / 4 | Cited 105 times in 2024–2026 (2026 still in progress; OpenAlex) |
| Senior author's track record | 4 / 4 | Last-listed author Jeff D. Williamson: h-index 101 (OpenAlex, whole career) |
| Institution's track record | 1 / 3 | McMaster University: institution h-index 1,334 (OpenAlex) |
| Multicenter collaboration | 2 / 3 | OpenAlex lists 4 institution(s) in 2 countries |
| Indexed in PubMed | 2 / 2 | Indexed in PubMed (PMID 16283246) |
| Free to read | 0 / 2 | Behind a paywall — scores zero |
| Total | 61 / 100 | — |
What each of these 20 components measures, and what this score is not →
Read the original
May need a subscription OpenAlex found no free copy of the full text (checked 6 Feb 1020), so the publisher may charge for it. The PubMed abstract is free.
Related
Studies in the library that share something with this one. The line above each title says what.
Studies this one cites
Referenced by this study and also in the alzhub library, so you can read them here. Showing 12 of 24.
Later studies that cite this one
24 studies in the alzhub library list this one in their references. Showing the 8 highest-scoring.
Related studies in Getting a diagnosis from nearby years
Also tagged “prevalence”
1,223 studies in the library carry the topic tag “prevalence”; these are this study's neighbours in a fixed, alphabetical-by-hash tour of them, not the closest in content. All 1,223 tagged studies.