Document Type
Article
Publication Date
2024
Abstract
Alzheimer’s disease is becoming more prevalent worldwide and the demand to understand the risk factors and the role they may have on the disease progression increases. Diabetes Mellitus has been shown to be a significant risk factor to the development of Alzheimer’s disease as it leads to cognitive impairment and due to its pathophysiology, it is possible that it may be a contributing factor to the progression of Alzheimer’s disease as well. Therefore, in this study, a chart review will be conducted. The inclusion criteria for this study were Hispanic patients, within the past 5 years, that have been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease and may also have a preexisting diagnosis of Diabetes Mellitus. Ultimately, forming two cohorts: Alzheimer patients without Diabetes Mellitus and Alzheimer Patients with Diabetes Mellitus. Physician notes will be evaluated and graded using the Global Deterioration Scale in order to quantify the disease progression in the Alzheimer patients. The two cohorts will be analyzed by using an unpaired t-test. The results showed that there was a nonsignificant correlation between Alzheimer patients with Diabetes Mellitus to the progression of Alzheimer’s disease. However, Alzheimer patients with Diabetes Mellitus had a higher average grade in the Global Deterioration Scale than Alzheimer patients without Diabetes Mellitus, indicating that there was a trend showing that Alzheimer patients with Diabetes Mellitus had a more advanced progression. The results may have been influenced by the limitations of this study such as having a small sample size which decreases the generalizability of these results.
Recommended Citation
Gonzalez Tovar, Maria Camila and Baker, Kelsey, "The Impact of Diabetes Mellitus on the Severity of Alzheimer’s Disease in Hispanics in the Rio Grande Valley" (2024). MEDI 8127 Scholarly Activities Pre-Clerkship. 62.
https://scholarworks.utrgv.edu/som8127/62
Academic Level
medical student
Mentor/PI Department
Neuroscience