Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and depression are established risk factors for dementia

The gap

Evidence profile

Sourced from the discussion and future-work section and stated challenges and stated research gap and abstract of the source papers, classified as general, drawn from work published between 1986 and 2026, spanning 7 journals. Those papers have been cited 178 times in total.

Supporting evidence — 8 representative gaps

• Infarct volume as a predictor and therapeutic target in post-stroke cognitive impairment (2025) · Frontiers in Medicine · cited 6× · doi

  The variation in the risk of cognitive impairment by stroke subtype is not well understood (87), and more studies are needed to evaluate cognitive outcomes across different stroke subtypes in both short- and long-term scenarios. The long-term trajectory of cognitive function following a stroke remains uncertain. Research on the longitudinal relationship between stroke severity and cognitive decline is sparse (85, 86).

  generaldiscussion
  Keywords: cognitive stroke long term variation risk impairment subtype well understood needed evaluate outcomes across erent
• A Longitudinal Investigation of Prediabetes, Diabetes, HbA1c and Cognitive Trajectories Among Cognitively Unimpaired Individuals (2025) · Journal of the American Geriatrics Society · cited 5× · doi

  17 In general, differences between prior study findings and our current results may be due to methodological differences, including but not limited to age at enrollment, duration of follow-up, differences in comorbidities, sample size, the inclusion or exclusion of individuals with cognitive impairment at baseline, as well as sensitivity and rigor of neurocognitive assessments. 12 However, studies on the cognitive trajectory associated with prediabetes show mixed results. While previous studies have consistently reported an association between diabetes and cognitive decline,10,11,16 the literature is inconclusive as to which specific domains are affected.

  generaldiscussion
  Keywords: differences cognitive general prior current methodological including limited enrollment duration follow comorbidities sample size inclusion
• Cognitive function during hypoglycaemia in type I diabetes mellitus. (1986) · BMJ · cited 108× · doi

  Further studies are needed to examine the long-term effects of hypoglycaemia on cognitive function. Research is needed to develop new treatments or management strategies for type I diabetes that take into account the risks of cognitive dysfunction. Studies should investigate the effects of hypoglycaemia on cognitive function in different populations, such as type II diabetic patients.

  generalfuture-work sectionevidence 5/5
  Keywords: further studies needed examine long-term effects hypoglycaemia cognitive
• Evaluating the link between insulin resistance and cognitive impairment using estimated glucose disposal rate in a non-diabetic aging population: results from the CHARLS (2025) · Frontiers in Medicine · cited 5× · doi

  The study identifies the challenge of understanding the relationship between insulin resistance and cognitive impairment in non-diabetic populations. The study notes the complexity of cognitive decline and the need for comprehensive measures of insulin sensitivity. The study highlights the limitation of lipid-focused metrics in assessing cognitive risk.

  generalstated challengesevidence 5/5
  Keywords: study identifies challenge understanding relationship between insulin resistance
• Subjective estimation of cognitive function in mild cognitive impairment: relationship with neurodegenerative and non-degenerative factors (2026) · Psychological Medicine · doi

  The gap in the literature is the lack of understanding of the relationship between subjective estimation of cognitive function and neurodegenerative and non-degenerative factors in mild cognitive impairment. The study addresses this gap by examining the association between metacognitive error and hypothesized indicators of underlying neurodegenerative and non-degenerative factors.

  generalstated research gapevidence 5/5
  Keywords: gap literature lack understanding relationship between subjective estimation
• Association of TyG index and obesity indicators with cognitive function: a cross - sectional study from Chinese health check-up centers (2026) · BMC Endocrine Disorders · cited 1× · doi

  BACKGROUND: Whether the triglyceride-glucose index (TyG) and its derived indices [TyG-body mass index (TyG-BMI), TyG-waist circumference (TyG-WC), TyG-waist-to-height ratio (TyG-WHtR), TyG-weight-adjusted waist index (TyG-WWI), TyG-a body shape index (TyG-ABSI)] are associated with cognitive function remains unclear, particularly in middle-aged populations.

  generalabstractevidence 5/5
  Keywords: index waist body background whether triglyceride glucose derived indices mass circumference height ratio whtr weight
• Memory self-assessment and performance in aged diabetics and non-diabetics (1987) · Experimental Aging Research · cited 53× · doi

  Future studies should investigate the longitudinal relationship between diabetes and memory self-assessments. Research should examine the impact of interventions aimed at improving cognitive functioning in older adults with diabetes. Studies should investigate the relationship between diabetes and memory self-assessments in different populations, such as younger adults or those with different types of diabetes.

  generalfuture-work sectionevidence 4/5
  Keywords: future studies investigate longitudinal relationship between diabetes memory
• Body Weight Change and Dementia Risk in Young and Middle‐Aged Adults With Type 2 Diabetes and Depression: A Nationwide Cohort Study (2026) · Diabetes, Obesity and Metabolism · doi

  ABSTRACT Aim Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and depression are established risk factors for dementia, yet clinically observable markers of neurocognitive vulnerability in younger adults with these comorbidities remain poorly characterized.

  generalabstractevidence 4/5
  Keywords: abstract type diabetes mellitus depression established risk factors dementia clinically observable markers neurocognitive vulnerability younger

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