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Ghrelin levels associated with executive function in type 2 diabetes
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Ghrelin levels may be a predictor of executive function impairment among patients with type 2 diabetes, according to researchers in China.
“A large amount of publications studying the relationship between ghrelin and insulin resistance or diabetic states has revealed a correlation between ghrelin and insulin resistance or diabetes mellitus. In addition, ghrelin is linked to neuromodulation, neuroprotection, and memory and learning processes,” Siting Chen, MD, of the department of endocrinology at the First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei, Anhui, China, and colleagues wrote. “However, the relationship between ghrelin and cognitive function in human beings has rarely been investigated.”
The researchers analyzed the serum ghrelin levels of 212 patients with type 2 diabetes and 158 controls between March 2015 and March 2016. Chen and colleagues measured cognitive function using the Montreal Cognitive Assessment and measured executive function with the Wisconsin Card Sorting Test.
Overall, patients with type 2 diabetes had a higher BMI, waist-to-hip ratio, and fasting blood glucose, HbA1c, HDL and LDL levels (P < .001), the researchers reported. They also had a higher incidence of hypertension and hyperlipidemia compared with controls.
According to Chen and colleagues, patients with type 2 diabetes had significantly lower plasma ghrelin levels than the control group (2.85 vs. 6.74 ug/L; P < .001), and they performed significantly worse on the Montreal Cognitive Assessment and Wisconsin Card Sorting Test (P < .001 for both).
Ghrelin was not associated with Montreal Cognitive Assessment score, the researchers wrote. However, a stepwise multivariate linear regression model showed ghrelin levels predicted visuospatial/executive function (P = .036) and delayed memory (P = .021).
“In conclusion, ghrelin concentration is positively associated with executive function in patients with type 2 diabetes,” Chen and colleagues wrote. “The level of serum ghrelin might be a biomarker of executive function and become a strong predictor of executive function impairment in patients with type 2 diabetes. Ghrelin might have a potential protective effect against cognitive function impairment in type 2 diabetic patients.” – by Andy Polhamus
Disclosure: The researchers report no relevant financial disclosures.
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