Abstract
Background: Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus (T2DM) contributes to the development of cognitive dysfunction and is also associated with many chronic complications. However, the contribution of hyperlipidemia to cognitive decline in patients with T2DM is not clearly known as the evidence available is inconclusive and variable. This study aims to find the effects of lipid fractions on cognition in patients suffering from T2DM.
Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among 70 patients who were suffering from T2DM and who visited the outpatient department of a tertiary care hospital in 2019. All patients were tested for lipid profile, i.e. total cholesterol (TCL), high-density lipoprotein (HDL), low-density lipoprotein (LDL), and triglycerides (TGL). Out of 70 patients, 35 patients were selected with normal cholesterol levels (<200 mg/dl) and 35 patients were selected with high cholesterol levels (≥200 mg/dl). They were then subjected to Cognition scoring by Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA). The cognitive score data were analyzed and the results were evaluated.
Result: The mean MoCA score in the present study was 27.2?1.98. No statistically significant difference was observed, when MoCA score was compared with high and normal level of TCL (27.26 ? 2.19 and 27.41 ? 1.77; p=0.460), HDL (26.67 ? 2.08 and 27.22 ? 1.98; p=0.527), LDL (27.21 ? 2.15 and 27.18 ? 1.72; p=0.653), and TGL (27.14 ? 2.04 and 27.27 ? 1.92; p=0.770). Mild correlation, but not a statistically significant one, was seen between MoCA and TCL (r=0.12); MoCA and HDL (rs=0.12); and MoCA and LDL (r=0.18). No statistically significant difference was seen for the cognitive domains between high and normal TCL (p>0.05).
Conclusion: Any significant direct association of cognitive function in T2DM patients with total cholesterol and individual lipid fractions was not found in this study population.

Key words: Cholesterol, Cognitive impairment, MoCA, type 2 Diabetes Mellitus