Cognitive dysfunction associated with diabetes mellitus
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Year of publication | 2008 |
Type | Chapter of a book |
MU Faculty or unit | |
Citation | |
Description | There has been a recent increase in research interest in the relation between diabetes mellitus and dementia or deterioration of cognitive functions. The relatively rich research literature on the topic shows that diabetes mellitus in itself causes an impairment of cognitive functions regardless patients age of the fact whether they have type 1 or type 2 diabetes mellitus. Type 1 diabetes mellitus leads to a psychomotor retardation while type 2 diabetes mellitus tends to be associated with impaired storage of new information. The exact mechanism through which diabetes impairs cognition has not been explained sufficiently yet, but several hypothetical mechanisms which might explain the relation between diabetes and impaired cognition have been proposed. If the exact etiopathogenetic mechanisms underlying the relation between diabetes and dementia are to be explained, further research, especially research focused on process clinical-imaging studies or clinical-pathological studies is necessary. As far as clinical practice is concerned, it is important to bear in mind that prevention, timely diagnosis and optimum treatment of diabetes may help to reduce incidence of dementia or cognitive functions impairment. |
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