Understanding the Association Between Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus and Cognitive Impairment - A Single-centre Experience

Sep 30, 2026

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Global diabetes prevalence is rising, increasing diabetes-associated morbidity, while cognitive decline is often missed despite routine screening for nephropathy, retinopathy, and neuropathy. This single-centre observational cross-sectional study assessed prevalence of cognitive impairment and associated risk factors in 96 patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Cognitive function was measured with the 30-item MoCA over two months, alongside clinical history and glycaemic parameters including HbA1c, FBS, and PPBS. Mild cognitive impairment occurred in 56% of patients, with attention most frequently affected, and higher glycaemic values correlating negatively with MoCA scores.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryHealthcare

FormatPDF

Pages6

Reading Time15 min

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Abstract

Background and Purpose

Methods

Results and Conclusion

Introduction

Methods

Understanding the Association Between Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus and Cognitive Impairment: A Single-centre Experience Annals of Neurosciences 1–6 © The Author(s) 2024 Article reuse guidelines: [in.sagepub.com/journals-permissions-india](in.sagepub.com/journals-permissions-india)[ ](in.sagepub.com/journals-permissions-india)DOI: 10. 1177/09727531241252327 [journals.sagepub.com/home/aon](journals.sagepub.com/home/aon) Tarun Kumar Suvvari 1,4 and Chandra Shekar Kali2,3,4 Abstract Background: The global prevalence of diabetes mellitus has been increasing, leading to a rise in morbidity associated with the disease. While diabetic nephropathy, retinopathy and neuropathy are routinely screened in diabetic patients, the cognitive decline associated with diabetes is often overlooked. Purpose: The purpose of this study is to investigate the prevalence of cognitive impairment and its associated risk factors among patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Methods: An observational cross-sectional study was conducted for two months. The Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) test, which consists of 30 questions, was used to assess cognitive function. In-depth clinical history along with glycaemic parameters were collected. The chi-square test was used to find out the association between categorical variables and cognitive impairment. Pearson’s correlation test was performed to determine the correlation between glycaemic parameters and cognitive impairment. Results: A total of 96 patients participated in the study. The mean HbA1c (%) was 9.08 ± 1.73, and the mean MoCA score was 25.14 ± 1.63. Mild cognitive impairment (MCI) was noted in 56% patients. Attention was the most common cognitive domain defect found in all MCI patients—100%. Delayed recall and memory were the second most common cognitive domain defect found—92.5%. Higher HbA1c, high FBS and higher PPBS were found to be statistically associated with MCI. A negative correlation was found between glycaemic parameters (HbA1c, FBS and PPBS levels) and MoCA scores. Conclusion: More than half of our study participants reported mild cognitive impairment. It highlights the need for the implementation of routine cognitive testing for diabetes patients. There is a strong negative correlation between MoCA scores and parameters of glycaemic control; higher levels of HbA1c, FBS, and PPBS are seen in people with a lower MoCA score, indicating mild cognitive impairment. Further studies are needed to evaluate whether improving glucose levels helps in improving cognition or not. Keywords Diabetes mellitus, cognitive impairment, Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) test, HbA1c, cognitive function Received 22 August 2023; accepted 30 March 2024 Introduction Diabetes mellitus is a chronic metabolic disease with multiple aetiologies that disrupt the metabolism of carbohydrates, fatsand proteins, resulting in hyperglycaemia. Type 2 diabetes is characterised by high blood sugar levels, which result from either the pancreas producing insufficient insulin or the body’s inability to properly utilise insulin.1 The global prevalence of diabetes mellitus has been increasing, leading to a rise in morbidity associated with the disease. While diabetic nephropathy, retinopathy and neuropathy are routinely screened in diabetic patients, the cognitive decline associated with diabetes is often overlooked.2 Cognitive impairment can lead to neurocognitive disorders, which can further exacerbate the impact of diabetes on the health of affected individuals. Given the increasing prevalence of diabetes, the prevalence of cognitive impairment among diabetic patients is likely to increase as well. Therefore, Tarun Kumar Suvvari and Chandra Shekar Kali contributed equally to the project and are considered as co-first authors. 1 Department of General Medicine, Rangaraya Medical College, Kakinada, Andhra Pradesh, India 2Department of Medicine, Government Medical College, Rajamahendravaram, Andhra

FAQs

What was the study designed to investigate in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus?

The study investigated the prevalence of cognitive impairment and its associated risk factors among T2DM patients, including the correlation between glycaemic control and cognitive outcomes.

How was cognitive function measured in the study?

Cognitive function was assessed using the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) test, which includes 30 questions.

Which glycaemic parameters showed an association with mild cognitive impairment?

Higher HbA1c, high fasting blood sugar (FBS), and higher postprandial blood sugar (PPBS) were statistically associated with mild cognitive impairment, and glycaemic parameters showed a negative correlation with MoCA scores.

Sep 30, 2026

Uploaded by Jiven