EFFECT OF LONG-TERM GLYCEMIC CONTROL ON COGNITIVE FUNCTION

OBJECTIVE - To investigate the relationship between recurrent hypoglyc emia and cognitive impairment in insulin-dependent diabetic patients. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS - Severity patients who were diagnosed as diabetic at apr 18 years or older, were under 55 years old, and had no condition likely to affect cognitive abilities were recruited from a diabetic register. Patients were interviewed to obtain information on the frequency of major and minor hypoglycemia. Their cognitive abiliti es were assessed on tests of premorbid intelligence, current intellige nce, reaction time, concentration. memory, and information processing. RESULTS - Their was a significant correlation between the apparent de cline in intelligence, expressed as the discrepancy between the estima ted premorbid and the acutal performance intelligence quotient, and th e frequency of major hypoglycemic attacks (r(s) = -0.30; P < 0.01). Co mparison of patients with and without recurrent hypoglycemia showed fe w significant differences in cognitive ability. CONCLUSIONS - Results support previous work that suggests that major hypoglycemic attacks ha ve a significant effect on some aspects of cognitive function, but the clinical importance of this finding remains to be determined.