Cognitive Function in Older Patients with Diabetes Mellitus

Choi, Jong Hyung; Kim, Hyun Kyu; Kim, Doo Man

Original Article

Journal of the Korean Geriatrics Society 2002;6(1):41-47.
Published online March 31, 2002.

Cognitive Function in Older Patients with Diabetes Mellitus

Jong Hyung Choi, Hyun Kyu Kim, Doo Man Kim

노인 당뇨병 환자에서의 인지 기능

Abstract

BACKGROUND
The relationship between type II diabetes and congnitive function has been explored in several studies. But the result was controversial. The purpose of the study was to determine whether diabetes mellitus in older patients(>or=65 years) is assiciated with cognitive dysfunction and to discover the related factors with th cognitive dysfunction. METHOD: Twenty patients with type 2 diabetes and twenty subjects with non-diabetes are studied with cognitive function test at Hwachun health center and county hospital. Cognitive function was assessed using Mini-Mental State Examination and Clock Drawing test and the score was analyzed. The diabetes groups were subdivided with duration of diabetes, HbAlc, chronic diabetic complications and then analyzed.
RESULTS
A total of 6(30%) diabetic subjects scored below 24 on mini-mental state examination, compared with 3(15%) of controls(p=0.2560). The mean socres were 20.1+/-2.7 and 19.0+/-3.5 respectively. Clock drawing test demonstrated that 13(65%) diabetic subjects inconectly placed the numbers and hands, compared with 7(35%) of controls(p=0.0578>0.05). The duration of diabetes mellitus, HbAlc, chronic diabetic com- plications were not associated with cognitive dysfun- ction among diabetic subjects.
CONCLUSIONS
The study showed that type 2 diabetes mellitus in the elderly is not associated with cognitive dysfunction, but further study should be done.

Key Words: Elderly, Diabetes mellitus, Cognitive function