The prevalance of dementia in patients with type- 2 diabetes mellitus

Background: Dementia is a growing public health concern, particularly among individuals with Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). This study aims to investigate the prevalence of dementia in T2DM patients and identify the associated risk factors, including age, glycemic control, diabetes complications, disease duration, hypertension and smoking.
Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted involving 260 patients with T2DM. Data on dementia diagnosis, HbA1c and fasting blood glucose (FBS) levels, duration of diabetes, hypertension status, and smoking history were collected and analyzed. Statistical analyses were performed to determine the associations between these variables and the prevalence of dementia.
Results: The study found that 34.2% of individuals with T2DM had dementia. Age was identified as the most significant risk factor, with higher prevalence in older age groups. Elevated HbA1c and FBS levels showed a strong statistical association with dementia, corroborated by a 5-fold increased risk at HbA1c levels above 7%. Longer duration of diabetes was associated with higher dementia prevalence, reaching 86.7% in patients with over 20 years of diabetes. Hypertension, particularly prolonged and untreated, significantly increased the risk of dementia, with a 50.7% prevalence among hypertensive diabetics. Smoking history also emerged as a notable risk factor for dementia patients who are smokers.
Conclusion: The findings highlight a substantial prevalence of dementia among T2DM patients and underscore the importance of comprehensive management of diabetes and its complications. Effective glycemic control, early intervention for diabetic complications, hypertension management, and smoking cessation are critical strategies to mitigate the risk of cognitive decline in this population. Further research is needed to explore the underlying mechanisms and develop targeted prevention and treatment approaches.