Impact of a Multidomain Intensive Lifestyle Intervention on Complaints About Memory, Problem-Solving, and Decision-Making Abilities: The Action for Health in Diabetes Randomized Controlled Clinical Trial

J Gerontol A Biol Sci Med Sci. 2018 Oct 8;73(11):1560-1567. doi: 10.1093/gerona/gly124.

Abstract

Background: Lifestyle interventions to reduce weight and increase activity may preserve higher-order cognitive abilities in overweight/obese adults with type 2 diabetes (T2D).

Methods: Adults (N = 5,084) with T2D who enrolled in a randomized clinical trial of a 10-year intensive lifestyle intervention (ILI) compared with diabetes support and education were queried at baseline and repeatedly during follow-up for complaints about difficulties in memory, problem-solving, and decision-making abilities.

Results: For those without baseline complaints, assignment to ILI was associated with lower odds that complaints would emerge during follow-up for decision-making ability (odds ratio [OR]=0.851, [95% CI, 0.748,0.967], p=0.014), and, among individuals who were not obese, lower odds that complaints would emerge about problem-solving ability (OR=0.694 [0.510,0.946]). No cognitive benefits from ILI were seen for individuals with baseline complaints about cognitive abilities. ILI may have exacerbated the severity of complaints about problem-solving ability during follow-up among individuals with baseline complaints and cardiovascular disease (OR=2.949 [1.378,6.311]).

Conclusions: A long-term multidomain ILI may reduce the likelihood that complaints about difficulties in higher-order cognitive abilities will emerge in T2D adults without pre-existing complaints. Among those with pre-existing complaints, the ILI did not prevent increases in complaint severity.

Publication types

  • Multicenter Study
  • Randomized Controlled Trial
  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, N.I.H., Intramural
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Caloric Restriction
  • Cognition
  • Decision Making*
  • Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / epidemiology
  • Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / therapy*
  • Exercise
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Life Style*
  • Male
  • Memory*
  • Middle Aged
  • Obesity / epidemiology
  • Overweight / epidemiology
  • Problem Solving*
  • Surveys and Questionnaires
  • Weight Reduction Programs