Neuropsychological status of elderly patients with diabetes mellitus.
OBJECTIVE
Diabetes mellitus (DM) is an important risk factor for Alzheimer's disease (AD) but the relationship between DM and amnestic mild cognitive impairment (aMCI), characterized by isolated memory loss, is unclear. We studied the prevalence of MCI in DM patients.


METHODS
Neuropsychological status was evaluated using the Rivermead Behavioral Memory Test (RBMT) and the Mini Mental State Examination (MMSE). Subjects consisted of 103 consecutive diabetic patients hospitalized for diabetic education. Patients with severe diabetic complications or cerebrovascular accidents were excluded.


RESULTS
Neuropsychological evaluation of DM patients showed that 71% were normal (MMSE score > or =24 and RBMT score > or =15), 5% had amnestic MCI (aMCI) (MMSE score > or =24 and RBMT score <15) and the remaining 23% had dementia (MMSE score <24). The percentage of patients with dementia was significantly higher in the DM group than in the control group (p<0.04). RBMT score and HbA1c were mildly correlated in diabetic patients.


CONCLUSIONS
High blood sugar may cause deterioration in not only memory function but also other cognitive domains in elderly patients with DM. Monitoring the neuropsychological status of this patient population is important.
Shimada
Hiroyuki
H
Department of Geriatrics and Neurology, Osaka City University Medical School, Japan. h.shimada@med.osaka-cu.ac.jp
Miki
Takami
T
Tamura
Akiko
A
Ataka
Suzuka
S
Emoto
Masanori
M
Nishizawa
Yoshiki
Y
D000284:Administration, Oral; D000368:Aged; D000544:Alzheimer Disease / Q000453:epidemiology; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000032:analysis; D003072:Cognition Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology*; D003920:Diabetes Mellitus / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000523:psychology*; D003927:Diet, Diabetic; D005260:Female; D006442:Glycated Hemoglobin / Q000032:analysis; D006801:Humans; D007004:Hypoglycemic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use; D007328:Insulin / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008297:Male; D008568:Memory; D008875:Middle Aged; D009484:Neuropsychology / Q000145:classification*; D015995:Prevalence; D011581:Psychological Tests
D001786:Blood Glucose; D006442:Glycated Hemoglobin; D007004:Hypoglycemic Agents; D007328:Insulin