COVID-19–associated cognitive decline in type 2 diabetes: Comparative cohort outcomes and therapeutic implications

This longitudinal cohort study investigated the impact of
COVID-19 on cognitive function in patients with pre-existing
type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), focusing on post-infection
outcomes and therapeutic responses. A total of 1,356 T2DM
individuals with confirmed COVID-19 were evaluated using
the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE), along with
psychosocial assessments (PHQ-9 and GAD-7) and
biomarkers of inflammation. The results revealed a significant
post-COVID cognitive decline, particularly among those with
moderate to severe infections, with a marked association
between MMSE scores and systemic inflammation,
depression, and anxiety. Multivariate regression identified
COVID severity, inflammatory burden, and psychological
distress as key predictors of cognitive impairment.
Therapeutic interventions, pharmacological interventions
(GLP-1 and SGLT2 inhibitors), and cognitive behavioral
therapy (CBT) as well as mindfulness-based rehabilitation,
demonstrated statistically significant cognitive and emotional
improvements over 12 months. These findings highlight the
critical need for integrated post-COVID care strategies
targeting neurocognitive and psychosocial health in T2DM
patients to mitigate long-term cognitive sequelae.

KEYWORDS
COVID-19; cognitive; T2DM; dysfunction; neurological
complications