Title:Cognitive and Functional Influences of Vildagliptin, a DPP-4 Inhibitor, Added to Ongoing Metformin Therapy in Elderly with Type 2 Diabetes
Volume: 13
Issue: 3
Author(s): Ilker Tasci, Mehmet Ilkin Naharci, Ergun Bozoglu, Umut Safer, Aydogan Aydogdu, Basak Filiz Yilmaz, Gulay Yilmaz and Huseyin Doruk
Affiliation:
Keywords:
Cognition, dipeptidyl peptidase-4 inhibitor, elderly, type 2 diabetes mellitus.
Abstract: Introduction: Diabetes mellitus has been linked to cognitive decrement faster than usual. Medical management
of diabetes can also interfere with the cognitive skills. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of vildagliptin
on cognition, as an add-on to metformin therapy in elderly patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus.
Materials and Methods: This was a prospective and observational investigation conducted in 10 elderly type 2 diabetes
mellitus patients who were started treatment with vildagliptin 50 mg twice daily to ongoing metformin. All participants
underwent detailed clinical cognitive assessment and neuropsychological testing with mini mental state examination
(MMSE) and clock drawing test (CDT), along with measurement of functional parameters at entry and study completion.
Results: Mean follow-up time was 10.9±3.7 months. No subjects reported significant side effects during the study. At
follow-up, in accordance with the clinical assessment, neither MMSE nor CDT showed significant changes after addition
of vildagliptin to metformin. Basic and instrumental activities of daily living (BADL and IADL), mini nutrition
assessment and geriatric depression scale scores also remained unchanged between the two evaluations.
Discussion: In this pilot study, addition of vildagliptin to ongoing metformin therapy in elderly with diabetes was
accompanied by stable cognitive and functional performance after almost one year of follow-up.
