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Diabetes mellitus and risk of dementia: A meta-analysis of prospective observational studies
Gudala K, Bansal D, Schifano F, Bhansali A.. Journal of diabetes investigation, 2013-04-26
Topic: Risk, prevention and care in population studies
Aims/introduction The aim of the present study was to investigate the association between diabetes and the risk of all type dementia (ATD), Alzheimer's disease (AD) and vascular dementia (VaD). Materials and methods Prospective observational studies describing the incidence of ATD, AD and VaD in patients with diabetes mellitus were extracted from PubMed, EMBASE and other databases up to January 2012. Pooled relative risk (RR) estimates and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated using the random-effects model. Subgroup analyses and sensitivity analysis were also carried out. Results A total of 28 studies contributed to the analysis. Pooled RR of developing ATD (n = 20) was 1.73 (1.65-1.82, I (2) = 71.2%), AD (n = 20) was 1.56 (1.41-1.73, I (2) = 9.8%) and VaD (n = 13) was 2.27 (1.94-2.66, I (2) = 0%) in patients with diabetes mellitus. Higher and medium quality studies did not show any significant difference for pooled RR for ATD, AD or VaD. Sensitivity analyses showed robustness of pooled RR among ATD, AD and VaD, showing no single study had a major impact on pooled RR. Conclusions The results showed a 73% increased risk of ATD, 56% increase of AD and 127% increase of VaD in diabetes patients.
Key findings
- Results A total of 28 studies contributed to the analysis.
- Higher and medium quality studies did not show any significant difference for pooled RR for ATD, AD or VaD.
- Conclusions The results showed a 73% increased risk of ATD, 56% increase of AD and 127% increase of VaD in diabetes patients.
Why it matters
Pooling 28 prospective observational studies published up to January 2012, this meta-analysis found that people with diabetes had a higher risk of developing dementia: 73% higher for all-type dementia (RR 1.73), 56% higher for Alzheimer's disease (RR 1.56) and 127% higher for vascular dementia (RR 2.27). These are relative risks from observational studies, and the all-type dementia studies varied considerably among themselves (I² = 71.2%). The study shows an association, not that diabetes causes dementia or that treating diabetes lowers the risk.
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Study details
- Participants20
- Effect size71.2%; 9.8%
- Evidence strengthLow
How this study scored 57/100
Published in a peer-reviewed journal. Scored zero for study design and randomised / blinded because the record does not state it.
| Component | Points | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Journal tier | 7 / 10 | Tier 3 — peer-reviewed journal (Journal of diabetes investigation) |
| Journal's citation record | 1 / 4 | Journal of Diabetes Investigation: journal h-index 94 (OpenAlex, 2026-10-29) |
| Study design | 0 / 12 | No study design recorded — scores zero, not guessed (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Strength of evidence | 1 / 5 | Rated “low” in our summary |
| Peer-review validation | 10 / 10 | Peer-reviewed. Published as an article in a named peer-reviewed journal. |
| How recent | 1 / 5 | 2013 — within 20 year(s) of the newest study here |
| Sample size | 1 / 4 | 20 participants |
| Effect reported | 2 / 3 | Effect reported as a number, without an interval or test |
| Studied in people | 3 / 3 | Studied in people (participant count stated) |
| Randomised / blinded | 0 / 2 | No randomisation or blinding stated — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Times cited | 6 / 7 | Cited 725 times (OpenAlex, 2026-10-10) |
| Citations per year | 4 / 5 | 48.3 citations a year over 15 year(s) since 2013 |
| Impact for its field and year | 4 / 6 | Cited 12.8× the average for papers of its field and year (OpenAlex FWCI) |
| Cited by studies here | 4 / 6 | Cited by 37 other studies in this library |
| Still being cited | 4 / 4 | Cited 228 times in 2024–2026 (2026 still in progress; OpenAlex) |
| Senior author's track record | 3 / 4 | Last-listed author Anil Kumar Bhansali: h-index 59 (OpenAlex, whole career) |
| Institution's track record | 0 / 3 | University of Hertfordshire: institution h-index 382 (OpenAlex) |
| Multi-centre collaboration | 2 / 3 | OpenAlex lists 4 institution(s) in 2 countries |
| Indexed in PubMed | 2 / 2 | Indexed in PubMed (PMID 24843720) |
| Free to read | 2 / 2 | Free to read |
| Total | 57 / 100 | — |
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Read the original
- DOI: 10.1111/jdi.12087
- PubMed: 24843720
- Original source →
- Free full text: Journal of Diabetes Investigation →
Full text: free to read — OpenAlex lists this copy as free to read: the link above (checked 6 Feb 1020).
Cite this study APA, Vancouver, BibTeX · download .bib or .ris
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.
APA 7th
Gudala, K., Bansal, D., Schifano, F., & Bhansali, A. (2013). Diabetes mellitus and risk of dementia: A meta-analysis of prospective observational studies. Journal of diabetes investigation. https://doi.org/10.1111/jdi.12087
Vancouver
Gudala K, Bansal D, Schifano F, Bhansali A. Diabetes mellitus and risk of dementia: A meta-analysis of prospective observational studies. Journal of diabetes investigation. 2013. doi:10.1111/jdi.12087. PMID: 24843720.
BibTeX
@article{gudala2013-24843720,
author = {Gudala, K. and Bansal, D. and Schifano, F. and Bhansali, A.},
title = {{Diabetes mellitus and risk of dementia: A meta-analysis of prospective observational studies}},
journal = {Journal of diabetes investigation},
year = {2013},
doi = {10.1111/jdi.12087},
pmid = {24843720},
url = {https://doi.org/10.1111/jdi.12087}
}
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