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Metabolic parameters and cognitive function in a cohort of older diabetic patients

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Abstract

Background

Dementia is one of the most disabling conditions associated with old age. With increasing life expectancy, prevalence of both dementia and diabetes is rising. The complex pathological relationship between diabetes mellitus (DM) and dementia has been studied, but is not yet fully understood.

Aims

The main objective of this study was to investigate the relationship between metabolic parameters and the cognitive function in older diabetics.

Methods

A total number of 360 diabetic subjects, age 65 years and over, and 300 older people controls were included. Clinical and biological parameters, together with the cognitive function, were assessed every 6 months over a 18-month period, for each study participant.

Results

By employing a multivariate linear regression analysis, several significant relationships have been identified: between Clock Drawing Test (CDT) scores and HbA1c (R 2 = 0.68); between CDT scores (R 2 = 0.51) and overall MMSE scores (R 2 = 0.43) on one hand, and DM duration in years, on the other hand; also between CDT scores and BMI (R 2 = 0.59). There was no significant association between fasting serum glucose (FSG), total serum cholesterol, LDL cholesterol or triglycerides levels and cognitive function scores (p > 0.05).

Conclusions

The close detailed monitoring of the cognitive function and a rigorous metabolic control are important, especially in the very early stages of DM. Addressing factors such as weight control in older diabetic patients could contribute to better cognitive outcomes.

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Acknowledgments

The authors would like to express their deepest gratitude to Professor Alan Walker (BA, DLitt, Hon. D.Soc.Sc. (HKBU), FBA, FRSA, AcSS, CBE), Professor of Social Policy and Social Gerontology at the University of Sheffield, UK, for his continuous and invaluable guidance and support. Moreover, the authors wish to extend their acknowledgement to Professor Mihail Coculescu, MD, PhD, FRCP, Professor of Endocrinology at the University of Pharmacy and Medicine “Carol Davila”, Bucharest, Romania, Member of Romanian Academy, for his enthusiastic encouragement and constructive suggestions.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Clinical Department, “Ana Aslan” National Institute of Gerontology and Geriatrics, Str. Caldarusani nr. 9, Sector 1, 011241, Bucharest, Romania

    Anna Marie Herghelegiu, Raluca Mihaela Nacu & Gabriel Ioan Prada

  2. Geriatrics and Gerontology Department, “Carol Davila” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Str. Dionisie Lupu nr. 37, Sector 1, 020022, Bucharest, Romania

    Raluca Mihaela Nacu & Gabriel Ioan Prada

Authors
  1. Anna Marie Herghelegiu
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  2. Raluca Mihaela Nacu
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  3. Gabriel Ioan Prada
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Raluca Mihaela Nacu.

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Conflict of interest

On behalf of all authors, the corresponding author states that there is no conflict of interest.

Statement of human and animal rights

All procedures performed in the present study that involved human participants were in accordance with the ethical standards of our institution and our National Research Committee and also with the 1964 Helsinki declaration and its later amendments and comparable ethical standards, including the respect for human rights.

Informed consent

Informed consent was obtained from all individual participants prior to their inclusion in the study, after a careful explanation of the details of the procedures.

Funding

This study was funded by Ministry of Education—Executive Unit for Financing Education, Higher Research, Development and Innovation (EUFEHGDI), Romania (Grant Number 1FL/2008). The corresponding author received financial support through the project entitled “CERO—Career profile: Romanian Researcher”, grant number POSDRU/159/1.5/S/135760/2014, financed by Ministry of Regional Development and Public Administration—University of Medicine and Pharmacy “Carol Davila”, Romania.

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Herghelegiu, A.M., Nacu, R.M. & Prada, G.I. Metabolic parameters and cognitive function in a cohort of older diabetic patients. Aging Clin Exp Res 28, 1105–1112 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40520-015-0515-0

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s40520-015-0515-0

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