Associations between comorbid conditions with mild cognitive impairment and Alzheimer's disease by race-ethnicity and sex based on NACC data.

INTRODUCTION

We investigated the associations between diabetes (type 2), hypertension and hypercholesterolemia with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and Alzheimer's disease (AD) diagnoses by race-ethnicity and sex.

METHODS

Data (n = 22,950) were derived via the National Alzheimer's Coordinating Center. Logistic regression was used to assess the relationship between each comorbid condition and MCI and AD.

RESULTS

For non-Hispanic White (NHW) and non-Hispanic Black (NHB) males, diabetes and hypertension had a significant positive association with MCI. For NHW females, diabetes, hypertension, and hypercholesterolemia were significantly associated with increased MCI. Diabetes was significantly associated with AD in Asian and Pacific Islander (API) males and NHW females.

DISCUSSION

Targeted interventions aimed at curbing diabetes and hypertension onset for NHW and NHB males, and potentially reducing all comorbid conditions for NHW females may reduce MCI outcomes. Heterogeneity in the Hispanic and API diasporas should be considered when delineating comorbid conditions with MCI and/or AD.

HIGHLIGHTS

For non-Hispanic White (NHW) and non-Hispanic Black (NHB) males, diabetes and hypertension were associated with MCI. Diabetes, hypertension, and hypercholesterolemia were associated with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) for NHW females. Only hypertension was associated with MCI in NHB females. Diabetes was associated with Alzheimer's disease (AD) in NHW females and Asian and Pacific Islander (API) males.