Context & Objective

Lacunar strokes and diabetes are risk factors for cognitive dysfunction. Elucidating modifiable risk factors for cognitive dysfunction has large public health implications.  One factor may be glycemic status, as measured by glycosylated hemoglobin (A1C).  The aim of this study was to assess the relationship between A1C and cognitive function in lacunar stroke patients with diabetes.

Design, Setting, Participants & Outcomes

The effect of baseline and follow-up A1C on the baseline and the change in Cognitive Assessment Screening Instrument (CASI) score over time among participants with a median of 2 cognitive assessments (range 1-5) was examined in of 942 individuals with diabetes and a lacunar stroke who participated in the Secondary Prevention of Small Subcortical Strokes (SPS3) trial (ClinicalTrials.gov number, NCT00059306).

Results

Every 1 % higher baseline A1C was associated with a 0.06 lower standardized CASI z-score (95% CI -0.101, -0.018).  Higher baseline A1C values were associated with lower CASI z-score over time (p for interaction=0.037).   A 1% increase in A1C over time, corresponded with a CASI score decrease of 0.021 (95% CI -0.0043, -0.038) during follow-up.  All these remained statistically significant after adjustment for age, sex, education, race, depression, hypertension, hyperlipidemia, BMI, CVD, OSA, diabetic retinopathy, nephropathy insulin use and White Matter Abnormalities. 

Conclusion

This analysis of lacunar stroke patients with diabetes demonstrates a relationship between A1C and change in cognitive scores over time.  Intervention studies are needed in order to delineate if better glucose control could slow the rate of cognitive decline in this high risk population.