Effect of plasma homocysteine levels and mild cognitive dysfunction on elderly type 2 diabetes

Abstract

Objective To investigate the effect of plasma homocysteine (Hcy) levels and cognitive dysfunction on patients with type 2 diabetes and explore the other factors that affect cognitive function.Methods 80 patients with type 2 diabetes were selected as our subjects and they were divided into cognitive impairment group (38 cases),cognitive normal group (42 cases) according to a simple mental state scale(MMSE) score.The plasma Hcy,glycosylated hemoglobin,blood lipid,uric acid,24 h urine trace albumin were measured.Results Plasma Hcy concentration in diabetic cognitive dysfunction,non cognitive impairment group and normal control group respectively were(19.56 ± 5.23),(16.21 ± 3.27),(14.67 ± 4.27) tmol/L,and there was statistically significant difference(F =3.76,P ＜0.05).The plasma Hcy levels in diabetic cognitive impairment group was higher than that non-cognitive impairment group(P ＜ 0.05) and normal control group (P ＜ 0.01),The factors impaired cognitive function in patients with other factors included age,glycosylated hemoglobin,body mass index,diabetes duration and plasma Hcy levels,and there were negative correlation with MMSE score (r =-0.336,-0.285,-0.226,-0.392,-0.312 ; all P values were less than 0.05).Conclusion Patient's age,duration of diabetes,glycosylated hemoglobin and BMI can affect cognitive function in patients.Higher Hcy levels in patients with type 2 diabetes is a risk factor for cognitive impairment. Key words: Diabetes mellitus, Type 2 ; Homocysteine ; Cognitive impairment; Diabetic encephalopathy