# Glucose instability and neurocognitive outcomes in older adults

> **NIH NIH RF1** · JOHNS HOPKINS UNIVERSITY · 2021 · $2,408,159

## Abstract

Abstract
Older adults are less able to maintain homeostasis or sustain physiological constancy and, although diabetes
is common in old age, glucose instability is an underappreciated concern. Diabetes is strongly linked to
dementia risk and there is growing evidence that glycemic variability contributes to risk of Alzheimer's disease
and related dementias, independent of average glucose or hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c). Wearable continuous
glucose monitoring technology is an opportunity to rigorously characterize glucose patterns in older adults
across the glycemic spectrum (from no diabetes, to prediabetes, to diabetes) and evaluate associations with
neurocognitive outcomes. The proposed project will 1) characterize midlife- and late-life risk factors for specific
glucose patterns in old age (glycemic variability, hyperglycemia, and hypoglycemia); 2) evaluate associations
of glucose patterns with concurrent symptoms (dizziness, difficulty concentrating, vision disturbances); 3)
examine associations of diabetes, glycemic control, and glucose patterns with brain MRI measures and
cerebral amyloid beta deposition via florbetapir PET imaging; and 4) evaluate the associations of disordered
glucose patterns with progression of cognitive decline and development of mild cognitive impairment or
dementia. Completion of these aims will move the field forward in our understanding of the link of diabetes and
continuous glucose monitoring-defined glycemic instability with neurocognitive outcomes in older adults.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10295921
- **Project number:** 1RF1AG074044-01
- **Recipient organization:** JOHNS HOPKINS UNIVERSITY
- **Principal Investigator:** Elizabeth Selvin
- **Activity code:** RF1 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2021
- **Award amount:** $2,408,159
- **Award type:** 1
- **Project period:** 2021-09-30 → 2025-08-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10295921

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10295921, Glucose instability and neurocognitive outcomes in older adults (1RF1AG074044-01). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-27 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10295921. Licensed CC0.

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