Relationship between Diabetic Peripheral Neuropathy and Cognitive Functions

Abstract Background: Diabetic neuropathy (DN) is a sensorimo-tor polyneuropathy that is symmetrical and length-dependent and is caused by metabolic and microvascular alterations due to prolonged exposure to hyperglycemia and concomitant car-diovascular risk factors. Diabetes is associated with cognitive disorders, including reductions in cognitive function and an in-creased risk of dementia. Aim of Study: This study aims to investigate the relation-ship between diabetic peripheral neuropathy and cognitive functions. Subjects and Methods: 50 patients with diabetic periph-eral neuropathy were recruited from the National Institute of diabetes and Endocrinology and outpatient clinic of Neurology, Faculty of Physical Therapy, Cairo University. The recruitment included both genders in the sample. Various assessments and measurements were conducted, including the use of a general and specific neurological evaluation sheet to gather compre-hensive neurological information. Cognitive functions were assessed using the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA). Additionally, a neurophysiological study involving motor (Rt. Ulnar and Rt. Common peroneal) and sensory (Rt. Sural and Rt. Ulnar) conduction studies was performed to obtain objective measurements of nerve conduction velocity, amplitude and dis-tal latency, contributing to the assessment of neuropathy. Results: The results revealed a significant positive strong correlation between sensory nerve parameters, including am-plitude and conduction velocity, and MoCA scores. Aslo, there was a negative strong correlation between sensory nerve peak latency and MoCA scores. Additionally, a strong positive cor-relation was observed between motor nerve parameters, such as amplitude and conduction velocity, and MoCA scores. Also, there was a negative strong correlation between motor nerve distance latency and MoCA scores. Conclusion: Findings indicate that higher sensory and motor nerve function, as measured by amplitude and conduc-tion velocity, are associated with better cognitive performance, while longer peak latency and distance latency are linked to poorer cognitive function, Moreever the long duration of illness of diabetic neuropathy is associated with the impairment of cognitive function.