Inflammatory markers predict memory dysfunction in elderly patients, but their contribution to memory deficits in adults with Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is less well understood. The present study determined whether specific single-nucleotide polymorphisms in the promoter region of tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) predict verbal memory in older patients with T2DM. Immediate and delayed verbal memory were assessed using word list and paragraph recall tests in a cohort of subjects with T2DM during 2 sessions, separated by 48 weeks. The presence of the TNF-alpha-238A allele, which has been shown to decrease gene expression, consistently predicted better baseline performance and protected against memory decline over a period of 48 weeks. Therefore, inflammatory mediators may be important modulators of memory function in individuals with T2DM.
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