Impact of Age on Cognitive and Psychological Functioning in Patients with Diabetes

Abstract

Diabetes mellitus is a chronic and non-communicable disease which is also termed as “sugar” emerged as one of the leading causes of global health deterioration. It is associated with decreased physiological and psychological functioning. Age is a significant predictor to evolve diabetes mellitus. Cognitive changes due to diabetes and psychosocial distress are prominent among the population and the risk is high with increasing age range. The aim of the present study is to find out any association between age and cognitive and psychological functioning of patients with diabetes. In the present study, age range of the sample was selected as 40–60 years. A total of 60 individuals of both genders were selected; 30 individuals with diagnosis of diabetes mellitus and equal number of normal controls were included. The cognitive functioning was measured by neuropsychological tools and the psychological functioning was measured by Psychological General Well-being Index. The results indicate that in case of diabetes patients, age was found to be mostly significant and negatively correlated with cognitive and psychological functioning in comparison to normal controls. Findings from the present study suggest that age could be a predictor in changed cognitive and psychological functioning of patients with diabetes and increased age showed poorer cognitive and psychological functioning.