International Journal of Physiology
  • Year: 2017
  • Volume: 5
  • Issue: 2

Effect of Duration of Diabetes on Cognitive Function in Non-insulin Dependent Diabetics

1Assistant Professor, Department of Physiology, Subbaiah Institute of Medical Sciences, Shivamogga

2Professor and HOD, Department Of Physiology, Shivamogga Institute of Medical Sciences, Shivamogga

3Associate Professor, Department Of Physiology, Shivamogga Institute of Medical Sciences, Shivamogga

*Corresponding author: Dr Mythri G, Assistant Professor, Department of Physiology, Subbaiah Institute of Medical Sciences, Shivamogga, Karnataka. E-mail: g.mythri@gmail.com

Online published on 18 July, 2017.

Abstract

The increase in diabetes among the elderly is of concern because in addition to the wide range of traditional diabetes complications, evidence has been growing that diabetes is associated with increased risk of cognitive decline.

To find out if there is any association between cognitive function and duration of diabetes.

The study was carried out in 100 individuals aged between 40–65 years consisting of 100 diagnosed cases of Non Insulin Dependent Diabetes Mellitus and 100 non-diabetics irrespective of duration of Diabetes from OPD of Mc Gann Hospital, Shivamogga. Rye's Auditory Verbal Learning Test, Verbal Fluency Test and Working Digit Span Test to assess short-term memory, Visual Reproduction Test and Validation Span Test were used to assess working memory. Statistical analysis was done using SPSS 21.

Memory test scores of non insulin diabetics were significantly reduced (p<0.001) when compared to the memory scores of age and gender matched non-diabetics. Duration of diabetes was found to have a negative correlation with memory scores for all 5 tests: AVLT (r=-0.849 & p<0.001), VFT (r=-0.927, p<0.001), VRT (r=0.816, p<0.001), WDST (r=-0.829, p< 0.001) and VST (r=-0.955, p<0.001). Subjects with diabetes for >10 years showed greatest cognitive decline.

The decreased memory status in diabetic patients may be due to many factors like hyperglycemia, hypoglycemia, vascular disease, insulin resistance, amyloid deposition and also some of the factors combine to produce additive effects like, type of diabetes, co-morbidities, age of onset, duration of the disease and type of therapy. These observed effects of duration of diabetes on memory status are of potential clinical importance because even mild cognitive impairment could interfere with day today activities.

Keywords

Diabetes, duration, memory