Cognitive dysfunction in diabetic patients with special reference to age of onset, duration and control of diabetes

Abstract

Aims of this study was to determine the relationship between diabetes and cognitive impairment is respect of the age of onset and duration of diabetes, other complication of diabetes mellitus and effect of short term glycemic control on cognitive impairment. In the clinical study 50 diabetic patients were examined clinically for evidence of cognitive dysfunction by "Kolkata Cognitive Screening Battery". The scores were compared with the normative data on global cognitive functioning in a population within an urban Indian context. Those having cognitive impairment, follow up was done for six months with adequate anti-diabetic drugs to control their blood sugar strictly (HbA1C <7%). Those who had adequate blood sugar control were again interviewed similarly. The scores were compared with previous values. Results show that cognitive dysfunction was associated with diabetes. Recognition, fluency and immediate memory were most commonly affected. Calculation was least affected. No significant correlation found between cognitive decline with either duration or age of onset of diabetes. The cognitive decline appeared to be reversible as improvement of some mental faculties after strict blood sugar control. In conclusion we have found that cognitive decline was associated with diabetes but not directly related to the duration and age of onset of diabetes. On the other hand, control of diabetes lead to improvement of cognitive function.