Cognitive impairment among Type 2 diabetic older adults: A single-centered cross-sectional study

Background: Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is a metabolic disorder characterized by hyperglycemia due to insulin resistance or deficiency. Cognitive impairment in older adults with T2DM can significantly hinder daily activities and self-care. Objective: To assess the prevalence of cognitive impairment among older adults with T2DM. Methods: A six-month descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted at Ghurki Trust and Teaching Hospital (April-October 2018). Using consecutive sampling, 91 older adults with T2DM were recruited from the diabetic clinic. Exclusion criteria included other major systemic diseases, cognitive impairment from a known non-diabetic cause, and type 1 diabetes. The study was approved by the Ethics Committee of Lahore College of Physical Therapy (LCPT/DPT/19/418). and informed consent was obtained. Cognitive function was assessed using the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE), with impairment categorized as: none (?24), mild (18-23), and moderate-severe (?17). Data were analyzed using SPSS version 21. Key limitation is the use of a single-center, non-probability sample. Results: Among the 91 participants, 38.5% 9(n=35) exhibited no cognitive impairment, as indicated by MMSE scores between 24 and 30. Mild cognitive impairment was the most prevalent category, affecting 59.3% (n=54) of participants, while moderate cognitive impairment was identified in 2.2% (n=2). No cases of severe cognitive impairment were observed. Overall, cognitive impairment (MMSE ? 23) was present in 61.5% of the study population. Conclusion: Mild cognitive impairment is prevalent among older adults with T2DM in this setting. The MMSE is a practical tool for early detection, enabling timely intervention.