Hormonal
Intensive lifestyle intervention (ILI) targeting weight loss in adults with type 2 diabetes does not improve cognitive function and may leave a legacy of relative cognitive deficits in subgroups with baseline obesity or cardiovascular disease history, an effect not mediated by changes in leptin or VEGF levels.
For individuals with Type 2 Diabetes, especially those with obesity or heart disease history, intensive lifestyle interventions aimed at significant weight loss may not improve cognitive function and might be associated with relative cognitive declines compared to less intensive support. This decline was not explained by changes in leptin or VEGF. Patients should focus on overall metabolic health and cardiovascular risk reduction, but should not expect cognitive enhancement from weight loss alone, and should monitor for any subjective cognitive changes.
Conclusions: Alterations in two weight-sensitive proangiogenic cytokines did not account for the long-term adverse effects of ILI on cognitive function among adults with diabetes and either obesity or cardiovascular disease.
Why this rating
Based on a large, long-term RCT (Look AHEAD) with rigorous statistical modeling, though the specific biomarker mechanism was not supported.
Source
Association of cognition with leptin and vascular endothelial growth factor in individuals with type 2 diabetes mellitus
Mark A. Espeland et al. · Obesity · 2022
DOI 10.1002/oby.23495
Related findings · Hormonal
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