Global cognition and executive functions of older adults with type 1 diabetes mellitus without dementia

Abstract

Abstract Aims/Introduction This study aimed to characterize the global cognition and executive functions of older adults with type 1 diabetes mellitus in comparison with type 2 diabetes mellitus. Materials and Methods This study included 37 patients with type 1 diabetes mellitus aged ≥65 years and 37 age‐ and sex‐matched patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus. Patients with dementia scoring <24 on the Mini‐Mental State Examination were excluded. General cognition, memory, classic, and practical executive function were investigated. Results Patients with type 1 diabetes mellitus demonstrated lower psychomotor speed scores on Trail Making Tests A and B (P < 0.001, P < 0.013) than those with type 2 diabetes mellitus. The dysexecutive syndrome behavioral assessment revealed similar results in patients with types 1 and 2 diabetes mellitus. The Wechsler Memory Scale‐Revised verbal episodic memory and Montreal Cognitive Assessment Japanese version were similar in terms of general cognition, but worse delayed recall subset on the latter was associated with type 2 diabetes mellitus (P = 0.038). A worse Trail Making Test‐A performance was associated with type 1 diabetes mellitus and age (P < 0.004, P < 0.029). Conclusions Executive function of psychomotor speed was worse in older outpatient adults without dementia with type 1 diabetes mellitus than in those with type 2 diabetes mellitus but with no significant differences in the comprehensive and practical behavioral assessment of dysexecutive syndrome. Patients with type 1 diabetes had more severely impaired executive function, whereas those with type 2 had greater impaired memory than executive function.

Keywords

• Cognition
• Executive function
• Type 1 diabetes