Comparative study of cognitive functions in patients with Diabetes Mellitus Type II: Correlation with clinical and demographic factors

Introduction: Introduction: A large number of studies have reported mild to moderate cognitive deficits in patients with Type II Diabetes, compared to the healthy population. Objective: In this study, we compared the cognitive functions of Greek patients with DM II, with a demographically equal group of normal subjects. We researched the demographic and clinical characteristics of the patients that affect their cognitive function as well as their quality of life. Material and method: The participants were 44 patients diagnosed with DM II and 28 healthy people. Both the diagnosed and the healthy group were evaluated with a comprehensive array of neuropsychological tests. Beck’s Depression Scale and the WHOQOL-BREF quality of life questionnaire were used. Results: Diagnosed participants differed significantly from healthy ones in the fields of episodic memory, verbal fluency, active memory, mental speed of processing information and executive function. Regression analysis showed that HbA1C levels, the interaction of age, education and predisposed mental potential explain high rates of fluctuations in cognitive dysfunctions. It was found that patients with severe cognitive deficits had a lower quality of life. Conclusions: Cognitive impairment can be considered a significant complication in patients with Type II Diabetes. Informing a diabetic patient about the strong possibility of cognitive dysfunction manifestation and investigating the clinical significance and implications of cognitive disorders in daily functioning and quality of life for diabetic patients, is of major importance.