Endocrine Abstracts

Introduction: The number of elderly with cognitive decline has been increasing. Several studies have shown that diabetes is a risk factor for cognitive impairment. Chronic hyperglycemia is implicated, probably by promoting the development of cerebral microvascular disease but physiopathology is complicated.

Methods: The study involved thirty-seven diabetic patients hospitalized in the department C of National Institute of Nutrition and Food Technology of Tunis and who responded to the mini-mental-status examination (MMSE) scale.

Results: We included in our study thirty-seven diabetics patients over 65 years old. The sex ratio (M/F) was 0.68. The mean age was 70.9±3.5 years and the mean duration of diabetes was 15 ± 9.1 years. The mean HbA1C was 10.5±2.3 and the mean BMI was 29±6.9. We examined the frequency of cognitive impairment using the MMSE. An MMSE score of 26 or less was adopted as an indicator of cognitive impairment. The average MMSE score was 22±6.5. The prevalence of cognitive impairment in our sample was 56.8%. The score declined with increasing age and long diabetes evolution. The cognitive impairment was associated with low level of education and the presence of hypertension and there were no significant association with the smoking. Conclusion Cognitive impairment is highly prevalent among the elderly. Subjects with disturbed glucose metabolism may be at risk of impaired cognitive function, as these disturbances can influence cognition through atherosclerosis, thrombosis and hypertension. That’s why, routine screening of cognition in older subjects with diabetes is recommended.