J Korean Neuropsychiatr Assoc.  2012 Sep;51(5):285-290.

Neurocognitive Function Impairment in Alcohol Dependent Patients with Diabetes Mellitus

• Hwang HR
• Min JA
• Kwon M
• Cheon YH
• Park JW
• Chai SH
• Kim DJ

Abstract

OBJECTIVES
Diabetes and alcohol dependence are considered as independent risk factors for cognitive impairment. This research was to investigate whether cognitive functions in diabetic alcohol dependent patients were more impaired than non-diabetic alcohol dependent patients.
METHODS
A cross-sectional study was conducted in alcohol dependence patients (n=138). Patients with alcohol dependence diagnosed by Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorder, 4th edition, Text Revision underwent a 75 g oral glucose tolerance test, to classify to diabetics group and non-diabetics group. In addition to demographic and clinical characteristics, cognitive functions assessed using the Korean-Mini Mental Status Examination (K-MMSE), word list memory test, and word fluency test, word list recall test from Korean version of the consortium to establish a registry for Alzheimer's disease, and block design test, digit span test, and digit symbol test from Korean-Wechsler Adult Intellogence Scale were compared between the two groups.
RESULTS
There was no significant difference in demographic and other clinical characteristics between the non-diabetic and diabetic alcoholic patients. Compared to non-diabetic alcoholic patients, diabetic alcoholic patients were more impaired on language of K-MMSE (p=0.028) and digit symbol test (p=0.044).
CONCLUSION
These findings suggest the more severe impairment of selective cognitive functions in diabetic alcoholic patients than non-diabetic alcoholic patients. Future replication of these findings in a large population is necessary.

Keyword

Alcohol dependence; Diabetes; Comorbidity; Cognition

MeSH Terms

Adult
Alcoholics
Alcoholism
Alzheimer Disease
Cognition
Comorbidity
Cross-Sectional Studies
Diabetes Mellitus
Glucose Tolerance Test
Humans
Memory
Mental Disorders
Risk Factors

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