Introduction: Alzheimer's disease (AD) is progressively linked to metabolic factors, with fasting plasma glucose (FPG) levels emerging as a potential predictor. This longitudinal study examines how baseline FPG relates to AD development, shedding light on metabolic pathways in AD pathogenesis.
Methodology: In this 2-year longitudinal study with 600 participants, subjects were divided into low, normal, and high fasting plasma glucose (FPG) groups to explore the risk of developing Alzheimer's disease (AD). They underwent annual cognitive tests and FPG monitoring. The study employed Cox models and Kaplan-Meier curves for risk and survival analysis respectively, considering factors like age and sex.
Results: Over the 2-year period, 120 participants (20%) developed AD. The incidence rate of AD was significantly higher in the high FPG group (28%) compared to the normal (14%) and low (9%) groups (p<0.001). Cox regression revealed that high baseline FPG levels were associated with a two-fold increased risk of developing AD (HR=2.01, 95% CI=1.35-2.99, p<0.001) after adjusting for confounders. Kaplan-Meier survival analysis showed a significantly lower AD-free survival in the high FPG group (p<0.001).
Conclusion: This study reveals that higher FPG levels significantly increase the risk of Alzheimer's disease over 2 years. FPG could be a crucial predictor for early detection and intervention in AD. Further research is essential to understand the mechanisms and assess glucose management's role in AD prevention.
H.S. Sharma: None. S. Kumar: None. B.K. Choudhary: None. K. Khan: None.