The effects of prediabetes and type 2 diabetes mellitus on cognitive status, physical function, and fatigue in older adults: a case-control study
- 1Faculty of Health Sciences, Physiotherapy and Rehabilitation Department, Usak University, Uşak, Türkiye
- 2Department of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Usak Training and Research Hospital, Usak, Türkiye
Abstract
Objective: The purpose of this study was to compare the cognitive status, physical function, and fatigue levels of Type-2 Diabetes Mellitus (T2DM), prediabetes, and healthy older adults.
Methods: Volunteers aged 60 and over were included in the study. Participants divided into four groups according to hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) levels: healthy, prediabetes, controlled T2DM, and uncontrolled T2DM. Cognitive function, spatial ability, functional mobility with and without dual-task conditions, reaction time, fatigue, and biochemical parameters were evaluated.
Results: A total of 94 participants (53 female, 41 male, mean age:67.12±5.84 years) were included. Significant group differences were observed in attention and delayed recall subdomains and total Montreal Cognitive Assesment scores (p<0.05). Additionally, significant differences were found in functional mobility, dual-task performance, foot reaction time, and fatigue levels (all p<0.05). Older adults with uncontrolled T2DM showed poorer cognitive and motor performance than healthy older adults. Adjusted analyses demonstrated that cognitive performance, reaction time, and fatigue-related differences remained significant after controlling for potential confounders, whereas functional mobility-related outcomes were attenuated. Among the biochemical markers, fasting blood glucose levels showed a significant difference among the groups (p<0.001).
Conclusions: Uncontrolled T2DM in older adults is associated with impairments in attention, memory, mobility, and motor performance, while fatigue was increased across prediabetic and diabetic individuals. These findings highlight the multidimensional functional impact of dysglycemia in older adults.
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BibTeX
@article{gursan2026effects,
title = {{The effects of prediabetes and type 2 diabetes mellitus on cognitive status, physical function, and fatigue in older adults: a case-control study}},
author = {Kevser Gürsan and Emre Cengi̇z and Elif Gür Kabul and Atilla Okan Kılıç and Merve Uçar Toros and Bora Toros},
journal = {Irish Journal of Medical Science},
year = {2026},
month = jun,
doi = {10.1007/s11845-026-04483-z},
url = {https://doi.org/10.1007/s11845-026-04483-z},
note = {CC BY 4.0},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - The effects of prediabetes and type 2 diabetes mellitus on cognitive status, physical function, and fatigue in older adults: a case-control study
AU - Kevser Gürsan
AU - Emre Cengi̇z
AU - Elif Gür Kabul
AU - Atilla Okan Kılıç
AU - Merve Uçar Toros
AU - Bora Toros
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/06/13
JO - Irish Journal of Medical Science
DO - 10.1007/s11845-026-04483-z
UR - https://doi.org/10.1007/s11845-026-04483-z
AB - Objective: The purpose of this study was to compare the cognitive status, physical function, and fatigue levels of Type-2 Diabetes Mellitus (T2DM), prediabetes, and healthy older adults. Methods: Volunteers aged 60 and over were included in the study. Participants divided into four groups according to hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) levels: healthy, prediabetes, controlled T2DM, and uncontrolled T2DM. Cognitive function, spatial ability, functional mobility with and without dual-task conditions, reaction time, fatigue, and biochemical parameters were evaluated. Results: A total of 94 participants (53 female, 41 male, mean age:67.12±5.84 years) were included. Significant group differences were observed in attention and delayed recall subdomains and total Montreal Cognitive Assesment scores (p<0.05). Additionally, significant differences were found in functional mobility, dual-task performance, foot reaction time, and fatigue levels (all p<0.05). Older adults with uncontrolled T2DM showed poorer cognitive and motor performance than healthy older adults. Adjusted analyses demonstrated that cognitive performance, reaction time, and fatigue-related differences remained significant after controlling for potential confounders, whereas functional mobility-related outcomes were attenuated. Among the biochemical markers, fasting blood glucose levels showed a significant difference among the groups (p<0.001). Conclusions: Uncontrolled T2DM in older adults is associated with impairments in attention, memory, mobility, and motor performance, while fatigue was increased across prediabetic and diabetic individuals. These findings highlight the multidimensional functional impact of dysglycemia in older adults.
SN - 0021-1265
SN - 1863-4362
ER -