Overview of Diabetes as a Risk Factor for Developing Dementia: A Systematic Review
Ahmed Yassin Alrefaei *
Department of Family Medicine, King Salman Armed Forces Hospital in Northwestern Region, Tabuk, Saudi Arabia.
Yasir Wadi Alngzi Alanazi
Department of Family Medicine, King Salman Armed Forces Hospital in Northwestern Region, Tabuk, Saudi Arabia.
Muhammad Sari Zahzum Alanazi
Department of Family Medicine, King Salman Armed Forces Hospital in Northwestern Region, Tabuk, Saudi Arabia.
Mohammed Saeed Alshahrani
Department of Family Medicine, King Salman Armed Forces Hospital in Northwestern Region, Tabuk, Saudi Arabia.
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
Background: There is debate over the relationship between diabetes and the main forms of dementia. The cognitive alterations associated with type 2 diabetes (T2D) mostly impact mental flexibility, mental speed, and learning and memory.
Objectives: To ascertain the degree of the link between diabetes and dementia, we thoroughly reviewed papers on the incidence of dementia in individuals with diabetes mellitus in this study.
Methods: PubMed, SCOPUS, Web of Science, and Science Direct were systematically searched for relevant literature. Rayyan QRCI was employed throughout this comprehensive process.
Results and Interpretation: We included ten studies with a total of 173797 participants, and 78828 (45.4%) were males. All of the included studies were prospective cohorts. For diabetic patients, early-onset diabetes, poor glycemic management, and diabetes status are risk factors for dementia development. There was also a higher chance of dementia development in those with mild to severe motor cognitive impairment and hereditary variables. Longitudinal studies that involve comprehensive evaluations of comorbid diseases and diabetes-related variables, as well as rigorous assessments of cognition—ideally in conjunction with neuroimaging—will be necessary for this process. This method will work best with large population-based cohort studies of older adults with diabetes and with longitudinal studies of at-risk groups that look at the development of diabetes, metabolic syndrome, vascular disease, and cognitive decline.
Keywords: Diabetes mellitus, dementia, cognitive function