Type-2 diabetes and cognitive function in a non-demented population.
OBJECTIVE
To study if type-2 (non-insulin-dependent) diabetes mellitus (NIDDM) is associated with cognitive dysfunction independently of clinically diagnosed dementia in an elderly population.


METHODS
Cognitive function was investigated with a brief neuropsychological test battery in a non-demented elderly population consisting of 183 NIDDM (World Health Organization, 1985) patients and 732 non-diabetic subjects.


RESULTS
Patients with NIDDM were impaired in the Trail-Making Test parts A and C, which may be a reflection of mildly affected frontal lobe/executive functions. Women with NIDDM performed better than non-diabetic subjects in the Mini-Mental State Examination.


CONCLUSIONS
We conclude that NIDDM per se is not associated with impaired memory in the elderly, and the minor defects observed in tests of frontal lobe/executive functions are unlikely to affect daily living. In the non-demented population aged 69 78 years, NIDDM does not carry a significant risk of cognitive dysfunction, when compared to the non-diabetic subjects.
Vanhanen
M
M
Department of Neurology, University Hospital of Kuopio, Finland.
Kuusisto
J
J
Koivisto
K
K
Mykkänen
L
L
Helkala
E L
EL
Hänninen
T
T
Riekkinen
P
P
Soininen
H
H
Laakso
M
M
D000203:Activities of Daily Living / Q000523:psychology; D000368:Aged; D001925:Brain Damage, Chronic / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000523:psychology; D003072:Cognition Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000523:psychology; D003704:Dementia / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology; D003924:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000523:psychology; D003925:Diabetic Angiopathies / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D002537:Intracranial Arteriosclerosis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology; D008297:Male; D008609:Mental Status Schedule; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D012307:Risk Factors