Metabolic and vascular determinants of impaired cognitive performance and abnormalities on brain magnetic resonance imaging in patients with type 2 diabetes

Abstract

Type 2 diabetes is associated with modest impairments in cognition, as well as atrophy and vascular lesions on MRI. This 'diabetic encephalopathy' is a multifactorial condition, for which atherosclerotic (macroangiopathic) vascular disease is an important determinant. Chronic hyperglycaemia, hyperinsulinaemia and hypertension may play additional roles.