Neurovascular and cognitive damages of diabetes mellitus to the central nervous system

Diabetes mellitus is a chronic metabolic disease that not only impairs peripheral nerves but also causes significant damage to the central nervous system (CNS) and aggravates the risk of cerebrovascular diseases, even promoting cognitive decline and the development of neurodegenerative diseases. A comprehensive review was conducted to elucidate the mechanisms and scope of these effects by analyzing 70 peer-reviewed studies published between 1998 and 2024 from PubMed and ScienceDirect. This review reveals multiple potential damages of diabetes to the function of CNS, including aggravation of cerebrovascular disease, decline of cognitive function, and acceleration of neurodegenerative diseases, etc., via rigorous literature screening, evaluation, and comprehensive analysis, which provides a new perspective for us to understand the full impact of diabetes on the CNS and an essential scientific basis for developing future treatment strategies.