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Review of Associations of Diabetes and Insulin Resistance With Brain Health in Three Harmonised Cohort Studies of Ageing and Dementia
Roshni Biswas, Ana Werneck Capuano, Rupal I. Mehta, Lisa Laverne Barnes, David Bennett, Zoe Arvanitakis. Diabetes/Metabolism Research and Reviews, 2025-01-01
Topic: Risk, prevention and care in population studies
Examining the risk of clinically diagnosed dementia in older adults, our study found a 65% increased risk of Alzheimer's disease (AD) dementia in individuals with diabetes compared with those without. Studies utilising neuropathological data showed associations of diabetes and peripheral IR with brain infarcts, while brain IR measures, notably alpha serine/threonine-protein kinase1 (AKT1), were associated with both brain infarcts and AD pathology. Recent epigenetic studies have revealed associations between IR and AD risk, along with distinct 5-hydroxymethylcytosine signatures in diabetes-associated AD. Overall, our findings, as summarised in this review, illustrate a range of mechanistic and other insights into the complex relationship of diabetes and IR with brain health. These findings may have important implications for future research on the ageing brain, including the prevention of cognitive decline and dementia in persons at risk for or with diabetes.
Key findings
- Examining the risk of clinically diagnosed dementia in older adults, our study found a 65% increased risk of Alzheimer's disease (AD) dementia in individuals with diabetes compared with those without.
- Studies utilising neuropathological data showed associations of diabetes and peripheral IR with brain infarcts, while brain IR measures, notably alpha serine/threonine-protein kinase1 (AKT1), were associated with both brain infarcts and AD pathology.
- Recent epigenetic studies have revealed associations between IR and AD risk, along with distinct 5-hydroxymethylcytosine signatures in diabetes-associated AD.
- Overall, our findings, as summarised in this review, illustrate a range of mechanistic and other insights into the complex relationship of diabetes and IR with brain health.
- These findings may have important implications for future research on the ageing brain, including the prevention of cognitive decline and dementia in persons at risk for or with diabetes.
Why it matters
This review of three cohort studies found a 65% increased risk of Alzheimer's disease dementia in people with diabetes compared with those without. It also found associations between insulin resistance and brain infarcts and Alzheimer's pathology, suggesting implications for preventing cognitive decline in people with diabetes.
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Study details
- Study designcohort study
- Evidence strengthModerate
How this study scored 49/100
Published in a peer-reviewed journal, and it is a cohort study following people over time. Scored zero for sample size, effect reported, studied in people and randomised / blinded because the record does not state it.
| Component | Points | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Journal tier | 7 / 10 | Tier 3 — peer-reviewed journal (Diabetes/Metabolism Research and Reviews) |
| Journal's citation record | 2 / 4 | Diabetes/Metabolism Research and Reviews: journal h-index 160 (OpenAlex, 2026-10-29) |
| Study design | 7 / 12 | A cohort study following 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 | 4 / 5 | 2025 — within 3 year(s) of the newest study here |
| 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) |
| Randomised / blinded | 0 / 2 | No randomisation or blinding stated — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Times cited | 2 / 7 | Cited 14 times (OpenAlex, 2026-10-10) |
| Citations per year | 2 / 5 | 4.7 citations a year over 3 year(s) since 2025 |
| Impact for its field and year | 4 / 6 | Cited 8.9× the average for papers of its field and year (OpenAlex FWCI) |
| Cited by studies here | 0 / 6 | No other study in this library cites it |
| Still being cited | 1 / 4 | Cited 14 times in 2024–2026 (2026 still in progress; OpenAlex) |
| Senior author's track record | 3 / 4 | Last-listed author Zoe Arvanitakis: h-index 55 (OpenAlex, whole career) |
| Institution's track record | 0 / 3 | Rush University Medical Center: institution h-index 670 (OpenAlex) |
| Multi-centre collaboration | 0 / 3 | OpenAlex lists 1 institution(s) in 1 country — scores zero (affiliation lists can be incomplete) |
| Indexed in PubMed | 2 / 2 | Indexed in PubMed (PMID 39873127) |
| Free to read | 2 / 2 | Free to read |
| Total | 49 / 100 | — |
What each of these 20 components measures, and what this score is not →
Read the original
- DOI: 10.1002/dmrr.70032
- PubMed: 39873127
- Original source →
- Free full text: Diabetes/Metabolism Research and Reviews →
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
Biswas, R., Capuano, A. W., Mehta, R. I., Barnes, L. L., Bennett, D., & Arvanitakis, Z. (2025). Review of Associations of Diabetes and Insulin Resistance With Brain Health in Three Harmonised Cohort Studies of Ageing and Dementia. Diabetes/Metabolism Research and Reviews. https://doi.org/10.1002/dmrr.70032
Vancouver
Biswas R, Capuano AW, Mehta RI, Barnes LL, Bennett D, Arvanitakis Z. Review of Associations of Diabetes and Insulin Resistance With Brain Health in Three Harmonised Cohort Studies of Ageing and Dementia. Diabetes/Metabolism Research and Reviews. 2025. doi:10.1002/dmrr.70032. PMID: 39873127.
BibTeX
@article{biswas2025-39873127,
author = {Biswas, Roshni and Capuano, Ana Werneck and Mehta, Rupal I. and Barnes, Lisa Laverne and Bennett, David and Arvanitakis, Zoe},
title = {{Review of Associations of Diabetes and Insulin Resistance With Brain Health in Three Harmonised Cohort Studies of Ageing and Dementia}},
journal = {Diabetes/Metabolism Research and Reviews},
year = {2025},
doi = {10.1002/dmrr.70032},
pmid = {39873127},
url = {https://doi.org/10.1002/dmrr.70032}
}
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