Comparison of Cognitive Reserve, Depression and Anxiety in Patients with Diabetes Mellitus

Abstract

Aim: Few studies have comprehensively examined the cognitive reserve in patients with Diabetes Mellitus (DM). The purpose of this study was to compare cognitive reserve, depression, and anxiety in patients with DM.. Material and Methods: A prospective cross-sectional study was conducted with a total of 80 participants (40 with DM and 40 with healthy controls). Patients with DM diagnosed at a hospital's internal medicine outpatient clinic were included. Patients’ cognitive reserve was evaluated with Cognitive Reserve Index Questionnaire (CRI). Depression and anxiety of the individuals were assessed with Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) and Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI), respectively. The difference between the groups was analyzed by independent sample t-test. In addition, Pearson's correlation coefficient was used to assess the relationship between the parameters. Results: Individuals with DM had significantly lower CRI-total (p=0.009) and CRI-education (p=0.011) scores. In addition, BDI (p=0.001) and BAI (p=0.019) scores were higher in individuals with DM. Correlational analyses showed a statistically significant weak negative correlation between BDI and CRI-total (r=-0.373, p=0.001), CRI-education (r=-0.294, p=0.008) and CRI-work (r=-0.386, p=0.001) scores in individuals with DM. Conclusion: The results of the present study revealed a lower cognitive reserve (particularly education-related component) in patients with DM. Besides, depression and anxiety were higher in individuals with DM than in healthy controls. In participants with DM, depression was associated with cognitive reserve (except leisure time).