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Cognition and synaptic plasticity in diabetes mellitus
Gispen WH, Biessels GJ.. Trends in neurosciences, 2000-11-01
Topic: Risk, prevention and care in population studies
Diabetes mellitus is associated with cognitive deficits and an increased risk of dementia, particularly in the elderly. These deficits are paralleled by neurophysiological and structural changes in the brain. In animal models of diabetes, impairments of spatial learning occur in association with distinct changes in hippocampal synaptic plasticity. At the molecular level these impairments might involve changes in glutamate-receptor subtypes, in second-messenger systems and in protein kinases. The multifactorial pathogenesis of diabetic encephalopathy is not yet completely understood, but clearly shares features with brain ageing and the pathogenesis of diabetic neuropathy. It involves both metabolic and vascular changes, related to chronic hyperglycaemia, but probably also defects in insulin action in the brain. Treatment with insulin might therefore not only correct hyperglycaemia, but could also directly affect the brain.
Key findings
- Diabetes mellitus is associated with cognitive deficits and an increased risk of dementia, particularly in the elderly.
Why it matters
This review states that diabetes mellitus is associated with cognitive deficits and increased risk of dementia, and discusses possible molecular changes in animal models. It does not report a tested treatment, cure, or prevention for Alzheimer's disease.
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Study details
- Evidence strengthLow
How this study scored 46/100
Published in a peer-reviewed journal. Scored zero for study design, sample size, effect reported, studied in people and randomised / blinded because the record does not state it.
| Component | Points | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Journal tier | 7 / 10 | Tier 3 — peer-reviewed journal (Trends in neurosciences) |
| Journal's citation record | 3 / 4 | Trends in Neurosciences: journal h-index 439 (OpenAlex, 2026-10-29) |
| Study design | 0 / 12 | No study design recorded — scores zero, not guessed (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Strength of evidence | 1 / 5 | Rated “low” in our summary |
| Peer-review validation | 10 / 10 | Peer-reviewed. Published as an article in a named peer-reviewed journal. |
| How recent | 1 / 5 | 2000 — older than 20 years, still counted |
| Sample size | 0 / 4 | Participant count not stated — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Effect reported | 0 / 3 | No effect size reported — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Studied in people | 0 / 3 | Not stated whether this was studied in people — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Randomised / blinded | 0 / 2 | No randomisation or blinding stated — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Times cited | 6 / 7 | Cited 775 times (OpenAlex, 2026-10-10) |
| Citations per year | 4 / 5 | 27.7 citations a year over 28 year(s) since 2000 |
| Impact for its field and year | 1 / 6 | Cited 0.9× the average for papers of its field and year (OpenAlex FWCI) |
| Cited by studies here | 2 / 6 | Cited by 8 other studies in this library |
| Still being cited | 3 / 4 | Cited 50 times in 2024–2026 (2026 still in progress; OpenAlex) |
| Senior author's track record | 4 / 4 | Last-listed author Geert Jan Biessels: h-index 105 (OpenAlex, whole career) |
| Institution's track record | 1 / 3 | Utrecht University: institution h-index 1,157 (OpenAlex) |
| Multi-centre collaboration | 1 / 3 | OpenAlex lists 2 institution(s) in 1 country |
| Indexed in PubMed | 2 / 2 | Indexed in PubMed (PMID 11074263) |
| Free to read | 0 / 2 | Behind a paywall — scores zero |
| Total | 46 / 100 | — |
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Cite this study APA, Vancouver, BibTeX · download .bib or .ris
Built from the record alzhub holds for this paper, not looked up. Volume, issue and page numbers are not held in the record. Check the citation against the original before you use it.
APA 7th
Gispen, W. H., & Biessels, G. J. (2000). Cognition and synaptic plasticity in diabetes mellitus. Trends in neurosciences. https://doi.org/10.1016/s0166-2236(00)01656-8
Vancouver
Gispen WH, Biessels GJ. Cognition and synaptic plasticity in diabetes mellitus. Trends in neurosciences. 2000. doi:10.1016/s0166-2236(00)01656-8. PMID: 11074263.
BibTeX
@article{gispen2000-11074263,
author = {Gispen, W. H. and Biessels, G. J.},
title = {{Cognition and synaptic plasticity in diabetes mellitus}},
journal = {Trends in neurosciences},
year = {2000},
doi = {10.1016/s0166-2236(00)01656-8},
pmid = {11074263},
url = {https://doi.org/10.1016/s0166-2236(00)01656-8}
}
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