Cognitive Dysfunction of Pregnant Women with Gestational Diabetes Mellitus in Perinatal Period

PURPOSE: To explore whether pregnant women with gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) had cognitive impairment and assess cognitive function in normal pregnant women. METHODS: A total of 75 consecutive women diagnosed with GDM (GDM group), 70 normal pregnant women (NP group) without diabetes and matched for age, and 51 female volunteers (CG group) with the similar age level, normal blood glucose, and nonpregnancy were included in the study. For the assessment of cognitive functions, Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) was performed. Venous blood samples were collected to measure blood glucose, glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c), methylglyoxal (MGO), beta amyloid (Aβ), and tau protein. RESULTS: The score of MoCA of GDM was lowest, and the score of the NP group was lower than volunteers (P < 0.05). The incidence of cognitive dysfunction increased significantly in the GDM group with statistical significance (P < 0.05). The levels of tau and MGO in the GDM group were significantly less than those in the NP and CG groups, and Aβ in the GDM group was significantly more than that in the NP and CG groups (P < 0.05), but the differences between NP and CG groups were not statistically significant (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: The pregnant women with GDM showed a significant decline in cognitive function, and the normal pregnant women also showed a decline in cognitive function which is very light.