Patients with diabetes are at increased risk of developing cognitive impairments. Cognitive dysfunction comprises impairments of executive functions, verbal memory, attention, and psychomotoric efficiency.
Age, the duration for which the patient had diabetes, and coexistent microvascular and macrovascular complications are considered to be the main risk factors of cognitive impairment in diabetic patients. Diabetes mellitus increases the risk of dementia (vascular and/or neurodegenerative).
Diabetes also accelarates the progression from mild cognitive impairment to dementia. It has been estimated that type 2 diabetes or impaired glucose metabolism might be present in up to 80 % of patients with Alzheimer disease.
The cognitive dysfunction is associated with worsened diabetic self-care ability and decreased compliance with antidiabetic treatment.