Associations between physical activity, glucose variability, and cognitive function in older adults with type 2 diabetes.
Jeeyeon Kim, Heather Cuevas
PMID 40158326WHAT IT FOUND
Physical activity was not linked to cognitive function overall in older adults with diabetes.
In people with lower cognitive scores, more activity tracked with better scores, but that was not the main test. Glucose swings were not linked to activity or cognition.
Key findings
01Physical activity was not significantly associated with global cognitive function in the whole sample.
02In an exploratory subgroup with BrainCheck scores below 100, higher physical activity was positively associated with cognitive function.
03Glucose variability was not associated with physical activity or cognitive function in either cognitive subgroup, so mediation could not be tested.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for PTs
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What it does not show
The study was cross-sectional. It cannot show that physical activity caused better cognition. The positive subgroup finding was a post hoc exploratory analysis. It was not the main test. Physical activity was self-reported with two items. It did not capture intensity, type, or timing. Some participants wore the CGM for less than two weeks. This may make glucose variability less accurate. The sample was 87. The authors estimated a minimum of 92 for adequate power. Medication data were unavailable. Medication effects on glucose variability could not be accounted for. Cognitive function was analyzed as a global score. Separate domains such as memory or executive function were not examined. Participants were adults aged 50 and older who reported subjective cognitive concerns and did not have dementia. The results may not apply to people with diagnosed dementia.
Declared interests
The authors report no conflicts of interest. The article is tagged as supported by NIH extramural and non-U.S. government research funds.
The easy way to misread this
Do not conclude that physical activity improves cognition in older adults with diabetes. The main analysis found no significant association, and the positive finding in people with lower cognitive scores was an exploratory subgroup analysis.