Association of iron metabolism with cognitive function in elderly patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus / 中华内分泌代谢杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective To investigate the association of iron overload with metabolic changes in hippocampal tissues, and to explore the relationship between iron metabolism abnormality and cognitive function in elderly patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus( T2DM) . Methods A total of 97 elderly inpatients with T2DM were enrolled. According to the Mini-mental state examination ( MMSE) score, the type 2 diabetic patients were divided into mild cognitive impairment ( MCI) and non-mild cognitive impairment ( Non-MCI) groups. A retrospective analysis was performed for their clinical data and laboratory parameters, including serum ferritin, MMSE, Montreal cognitive assessment ( MoCA) , carotid intima-media thickness, ankle brachial index, and the ELISA method was used to detect soluble transferring receptor ( sTfR ) . Proton MR spectroscopy ( 1 H-MRS ) was performed in the hippocampus of 26 patients. Results Compared with Non-MCI group, MCI group revealed higher age(P<0.01), higher incidence of carotid plaque (P<0.01), decreased sTfR(P=0.049) and left hippocampal height(P=0.034). Age, sTfR, and carotid plaque were independent risk factors for MCI in elderly patients with T2DM. Conclusion The abnormal iron metabolism may contribute to the occurrence of MCI in the elderly patients with T2DM.