RESUMO
Background: Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is known to be associated with cognitive impairment, but the Impact of the timing of diagnosis on cognitive function remains unclear. This pilot project aims to assess the cognitive function of people diagnosed with T2DM at an early vs. late stage. The study will examine several cognitive domains, such as attention, memory, executive function, visuospatial skills, and sensorimotor abilities. Methods: We recruited 80 adults diagnosed with T2DM, evenly split into 2 groups-one with early diagnosis (?5 years) (n=40) and other with late diagnosis (?6 years) (n=40) depending on when their disease was identified. Both groups underwent evaluation for demographic and clinical factors. Cognitive function was assessed using mini-mental state examination (MMSE), Montreal cognitive assessment (MoCA), and Addenbrooke's cognitive examination (ACE-III). Specific domain of cognition wasmeasured as span of attention (Tachitoscope), memory (PGI Battery scale), executive function (Stroop test), visuospatial function (Corsi block test), sensorimotor abilities (auditory /visual reaction time), and intelligence (Koh抯 Block design test). Results: Preliminary findings suggest that the early diagnosis group showed significantly average cognitive performance compared to the late diagnosis group. They also showed improved metabolic control and increased levels of physical activity. Individuals in the early diagnosis group had higher educational levels and socioeconomic status, potentially leading to improved disease detection and more effective health management. Conclusions: These findings indicate that identifying T2DM at an early stage, help in preserving cognitive function as compared to a diagnosis made at a later stage.