Cognitive decline in diabetics: A case-control study

Background: The association between cognitive decline and diabetes mellitus has been evidenced throughout recent decades. Objectives: The objective of this study was to determine the prevalence of cognitive decline in diabetics and nondiabetics in association with age, gender, level of education, risk factors, and duration of diabetes mellitus in middle-aged and elderly patients. Materials and Methods: A prospective, case-control study was conducted at a tertiary-care center between May 2014 and December 2015. Patients with diabetes (n = 150) and normal patients (n = 150) were compared. Patients were divided into groups according to age, gender, education, and duration of diabetes mellitus. The Hindi mini-mental state examination (HMMSE) was used to detect cognitive decline. Results: In diabetics with HMMSE score <27, 24 (46.1%) were aged <60 years, whereas 28 (53.9%) were aged ≥60 years. In diabetics with HMMSE score ≥27, 52 (53.1%) were aged <60 years, whereas 46 (46.9%) were aged ≥60 years. This finding was not statistically significant. In nondiabetics with HMMSE score <27, 13 (34.2%) nondiabetics were aged <60 years, whereas 25 (65.8%) were aged ≥60 years. In nondiabetics with HMMSE score ≥27, 61 (54.4%) were aged <60 years, whereas 51 (45.6%) were aged ≥60 years. This finding was statistically significant. Conclusion: Our study findings revealed no statistically significant findings in diabetics. However, specific cognitive domains such as orientation to place, concentration, and drawing displayed statistical significance for cognitive decline.