Association of serum dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate with cognition in male T2DM patients

Abstract

Objective To investigate the association of serum dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate(DHEA-S)with the cognition in male type 2 diabetes mellitus(T2DM)patients. Methods 99 male patients cared at Tangshan Gongren Hospital and another 97 male healthy controls without T2DM from the medical examination center were recruited. Data on demographic characteristics and clinical parameters were collected, DHEA-S was measured by radioimmunologic assay. Cognitive performance was assessed by the Repeatable Battery for the Assessment of Neuropsychological Status(RBANS). Results (1)Serum DHEA-S levels were lower in male T2DM patients than that of controls[(2.66±0.78 vs 4.02±1.24)μmol/L, P<0.01]; (2)Compared with controls, RBANS scores including immediate memory(79.24±17.47 vs 86.25±15.21, P<0.01), visuospatial/constructional(83.98±17.98 vs 97.24±11.51, P<0.01), attention(96.04±14.65 vs 101.45±13.93, P<0.01), delayed memory(89.28±11.74 vs 97.41±9.41, P<0.01), and total scores(85.85±11.46 vs 94.60±10.91, P<0.01)were all lower in male T2DM patients; (3)RBANS scores including delayed memory(84.53±12.23 vs 93.94±9.18, P<0.01)and total scores(80.33±10.91 vs 91.26±9.25, P<0.01)in T2DM patients with low-level DHEA-S(DHEA-S-L)were all lower than those of patients with high-level DHEA-S; (4)Male T2DM patients with cognitive impairment had lower levels of DHEA-S than patients without cognitive impairment(2.31±0.79对2.90±0.67, P<0.01); (5)In male T2DM patients, DHEA-S was positively correlated with delayed memory(r=0.252, P=0.019)and total scores(r=0.258, P=0.016). Conclusion Male T2DM patients are with lower serum DHEA-S levels and worse cognitive performance, and serum DHEA-S was positively correlated with their cognitive performance, suggesting that serum DHEA-S may be involved in the cognitive deficits of male T2DM patients. (Chin J Endocrinol Metab, 2016, 32: 657-662) Key words: Diabetes mellitus, type 2; Males; Dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate; Cognition