Tali Elfassy, Allison E. Aiello, Neil Schneiderman, Mary N. Haan, Wassim Tarraf, Hector M. González, Marc Gellman, Hermes J. Florez, Jose A. Luchsinger, Clinton B. Wright, Ellen Grober, Adina Zeki Al Hazzouri

To examine the association between diabetes and cognitive function within U.S. Hispanics/Latinos of Central American, Cuban, Dominican, Mexican, Puerto Rican, and South American background. This cross-sectional study included 9,609 men and women (mean age = 56.5 years), who are members of the Hispanic Community Health Study/Study of Latinos. We classified participants as having diabetes, prediabetes, or normal glucose regulation. Participants underwent a neurocognitive battery consisting of tests of verbal fluency, delayed recall, and processing speed. Analyses were stratified by Hispanic/Latino subgroup. From fully adjusted linear regression models, compared with having normal glucose regulation, having diabetes was associated with worse processing speed among Cubans (β = -1.99; 95% CI [confidence interval] = [-3.80, -0.19]) and Mexicans (β = -2.26; 95% CI = [-4.02, -0.51]). Compared with having normal glucose regulation, having prediabetes or diabetes was associated with worse delayed recall only among Mexicans (prediabetes: β = -0.34; 95% CI = [-0.63, -0.05] and diabetes: β = -0.41; 95% CI = [-0.79, -0.04]). No associations with verbal fluency. The relationship between diabetes and cognitive function varied across Hispanic/Latino subgroup.