Abstract:
Type 2 diabetes mellitus investigated as a risk factor for cognitive decline. It is known that the difference
between simple and choice reaction time implies time required for cognition. Though delayed reaction times indicate
involvement of cognition, they cannot quantify how much time is required for cognition. In whole body choice reaction
time (WBCRT), reaction time is split into two chronoscopic readings: Chronoscopic reading-1 (C1) and chronoscopic
reading-2 (C2). C1 measures time required for central processing that requires cognition and C2 measures the total
reaction time. C2 — C1 measures time required for peripheral motor response. We hypothesized that WBCRT C1 will be
delayed in diabetes and will have predictive value in detecting cognitive dysfunction. Settings and Design: Hospital-
based case control study. Materials and Methods: Study was conducted on 120 subjects using visual and whole body
reaction times having criteria of age (40-60 years) and diabetes, compared with equal number of age- and sex-matched
controls. Statistical analysis was done by independent t-test and duration of diabetes was correlated with cognition
times (WBCRT C1) using Pearson’s correlation. Predictive value of WBCRT C1 was calculated by using the receiver
operating characteristic (ROC) curve. Results: WBCRT C1 (564 ± 107 ms) among diabetes patients was more delayed
than WBCRT C1 (513 ± 86 ms) among controls indicating a cognitive dysfunction in patients with diabetes. There was
no significant correlation between hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) levels in patients with diabetes and diabetic duration with
WBCRT C1. The best cutoff value for WBCRT C1, when predicting cognitive dysfunction in patients with diabetes, was
517 ms (sensitivity 50%, specificity 40%). Conclusions: WBCRT C1 can be used as a tool to detect cognitive dysfunction
in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus.
