Cognitive function and glycosylated hemoglobin in older patients with type II diabetes

The purpose of this study was to assess whether there is a relationship between diabetes control and cognitive function in older persons with type II diabetes. Seventy-seven patients with type II diabetes mellitus-none of whom were taking insulin-were given two cognitive function tests (the Modified Mini-Mental State and the Delayed Word Recall Test) and a HbA1C assay. All patients were living independently at home in rural communities, and under the care of their family doctor. The mean age of the subjects was 67.6 years; the sample consisted of 23 males and 54 females. The mean glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1C) level was 8.4 (range from 3.1 to 20.0). There was a nonsignificant trend for persons with extreme lower or higher HbA1C levels to have poorer cognitive function as assessed by the Modified Mini-Mental State but not the Delayed Word Recall Test. The effect of glycemic control on cognitive function may not be as clinically relevant as other factors in elderly persons with type II diabetes.