Dynamic Changes in Brain Perfusion after Cognitive Rehabilitation in Patients with Type 1 and Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus

Abstract

INTRODUCTION: The results of numerous studies indicate a high prevalence of cognitive impairment among patients with diabetes mellitus (DM). AIM: To evaluate the effectiveness of computerized training in cognitive rehabilitation in individuals with type 1 and type 2 DM, taking into account the dynamics of brain perfusion. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A randomized controlled study. The study group consisted of 25 patients with type 1 DM and 30 patients with type 2 DM aged 23 to 67 years. The comparison group included 20 patients with type 1 DM (mean age 28.4 years) and 20 patients with type 2 DM (mean age 56.0 years). Before and after the rehabilitation course, the patients of the study group underwent a general clinical examination, a blood test for carbohydrate metabolism, cognitive function testing using the Montreal Scale (MoCA test), contrast-free perfusion magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the brain. Active rehabilitation lasted 6 month; it was based on a computerized training, including exercises on verbal and nonverbal intelligence. RESULTS: On the initial examination, all the subjects did not have the achieved target level of glycated hemoglobin. After completion of the training program, a decrease in the parameter in both groups was noted, as well as a decrease in the mean level of fasting glycemia in people with type 1 DM. The result of neuropsychological testing in all patients at the initial stage corresponded to the diagnosis of ‘cognitive dysfunction’. The control test revealed an improvement in cognitive status according to the overall score, the abstraction scale, speech, memory and visual-constructive skills. Correlation analysis in the group with type 1 DM showed that the result of exercises on visual attention and auditory perception was influenced by memory function. In individuals with type 2 DM, increased glycated hemoglobin was associated with a decrease in cognitive functions according to the overall score of the MoCA test, as well as in tasks for speech, memory, visual-constructive skills. Dynamic analysis of changes in the MRI picture revealed hypoperfusion in the area of the right and left thalamus in patients with type 1 and type 2 DM, respectively, as well as increased perfusion of the white matter of the right parietal lobe in the group with type 1 DM, and in the putamen area on the left in the group with type 2 DM. CONCLUSION: In patients with type 1 and type 2 DM, as well as with cognitive deficit, who underwent a course of cognitive rehabilitation using computerized training, an improvement in cognitive status was noted, which was confirmed by the results of contrast-free perfusion MRI. to evaluate the effectiveness of computerized training in cognitive rehabilitation in people with type 1 and type 2 diabetes mellitus, taking into account the dynamics of brain perfusion.