Locus of Control and Cognition in Older Adults with Type 1 Diabetes: Evidence for Sex Differences from the Study of Longevity in Diabetes (SOLID)

Chloe W. Eng, Paola Gilsanz, Mary E. Lacy, Michal Schnaider Beeri, Rachel A. Whitmer

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

4 Scopus citations

Abstract

Objective:Life expectancy for individuals with type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM) has increased recently; however, it is unknown how diabetes care attitudes affect late-life brain health.Research Design and Methods:The Study of Longevity in Diabetes (SOLID) consists of 734 older adults with T1DM, reporting diabetes locus of control (dLOC), age of diabetes diagnosis and other demographics, history of hypoglycemic episodes, and depressive symptoms. Global and domain-specific (language, executive function, episodic memory, simple attention) cognitive functioning was assessed at in-person interviews. Cross-sectional associations between dLOC and cognition were estimated using covariate-Adjusted linear regression models in pooled and sex-stratified models.Results:In pooled analyses, a 1-point increase in dLOC (more internal) was positively associated with global cognition [β=0.05, 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.02, 0.07], language (β=0.04, 95% CI: 0.01, 0.07), and executive function (β=0.04, 95% CI: 0.01, 0.07), but not episodic memory or simple attention. However, in sex-stratified analyses, this effect was seen only in males and not females.Conclusions:In elderly individuals with T1DM, we found associations between dLOC and cognition overall and in men but not women. Underlying sex differences should be considered in future research or interventions on psychosocial characteristics for cognition.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)25-30
Number of pages6
JournalAlzheimer Disease and Associated Disorders
Volume34
Issue number1
DOIs
StatePublished - 2020

Bibliographical note

Publisher Copyright:
© 2019 Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc. All rights reserved.

Keywords

  • cognition
  • cognitive function
  • locus of control
  • sex differences
  • type 1 diabetes

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Clinical Psychology
  • Gerontology
  • Geriatrics and Gerontology
  • Psychiatry and Mental health

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