Indications and pathways of Type 2 diabetes mellitus as a predictor of neurocognitive decline and dementia: Clinical implications and management

Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is a metabolic disease, one of the most common chronic conditions globally. Studies suggest that T2DM can increase the risk of mild cognitive impairment (MCI), Alzheimer’s disease (AD) and other types of dementia; T2DM has been associated with decline in memory, verbal fluency, executive function and processing speed. It seems that T2DM and AD share common biological mechanisms. Multiple studies have investigated them, suggesting that insulin resistance, hyperglycemia and neuroinflammation are some potential factors which can increase risk of dementia in patients with T2DM. Thus, it is suggested that cognitive screening in the early stages of T2DM can be beneficial to prognose disease progression. Despite the current data regarding T2DM and dementia, there is a research gap on interventions focusing on the cognitive and psychological aspects of diabetes. Therefore, future studies should focus on creating tailored interventions for diabetic patients and identify possible biomarkers for the early prediction of cognitive deficits on T2DM. With a deeper understanding, researchers can help prevent or delay cognitive impairment in patients with T2DM contributing to patient’s quality of life and the broader landscape of public health.