Evaluation of serum vitamin b12 in elderly individuals with type 2 diabetes mellitus, with and without dementia, in relation to the use of metformin

Background Diabetes mellitus (DM) is a group of metabolic diseases with diverse pathophysiology, characterized by hyperglycemia resulting from impaired insulin secretion by beta cells, peripheral resistance to insulin action, or both. One of the ways to treat diabetes is using Metformin, which reduces the blood glucose by suppressing hepatic glucose production, increasing muscle glucose uptake and insulin-dependent increase intestinal glucose utilization. But like any drug metformin also has side effects and what interests us in this work is to study the chronic treatment with metformin, which may be accompanied by a slight decrease absorption of vitamin B12 in the distal ileum and occasionally folate. Studies have identified the existence of a connection between Diabetes Mellitus and dementia. Hyperglycemia can be a significant factor for the incidence of Alzheimer’s and a secondary cause of dementia. The Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus is associated with cognitive and functional deficits. One of the Required laboratory test in the etiological investigation of a dementia syndrome is the serum levels of vitamin B12. Under these conditions, the diagnosis is based largely on clinical history, as well as the neuropsychological profile.