Nedsatt kognition och diabetes – ett ofta förbisett samband

In addition to peripheral neuropathy of various manifestations, diabetes is also associated with central neuropathy. This can manifest as premature cognitive decline, although the role of hyperglycemia in this process remains ambiguous. Notwithstanding that the link between diabetes and cognitive decline was discovered 100 years ago, and has important clinical implications, this co-morbidity remains relatively unknown. Recent years have seen research that has clarified cerebral insulin resistance and defective insulin signaling as two putative pathogenic factors behind this cognitive impairment. Recently published studies have shown that physical activity may reverse insulin resistance in the brain as well as improve cognitive impairment and pathological appetite regulation. Pharmacological intervention with e.g. nasal insulin and GLP-1 receptor agonists have also shown promising results, but must be further tested in clinical studies.