The Effect of SGLT2 Inhibitors on Cognitive Functions and BDNF Levels in Patients With Type 2 Diabetes

The Effect of SGLT2 Inhibitors on Cognitive Functions and a Neuroinflammatory Biomarker, Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor Levels in Patients With Type 2 Diabetes

Cognitive impairment is a common complication in diabetes for various reasons. Although glycemic control improves cognitive impairment, different antidiabetic medications' effects on cognitive functions are still being investigated. Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) is a neuroinflammatory marker and a member of the neurotrophin family with growth factor properties. BDNF levels have been shown to decrease in mild cognitive dysfunction or in late-onset Alzheimer's disease. Our aim is to examine the effect of SGLT2 inhibitor use on cognitive functions and BDNF levels.

Study Overview

• Status: Terminated
• Conditions: Cognitive Impairment; Type2 Diabetes
• Intervention / Treatment: Diagnostic test: MOCA cognitive evaluation test; Diagnostic test: BDNF levels; Other: SF-36 test; Diagnostic test: Geriatric depression test

Detailed Description

Type 2 diabetes is a complex metabolic disorder that can cause serious damage to various organs. Impairment in cognitive functions is one of the common complications in patients with diabetes. Impairment in cognitive functions and significant dementia were found to be approximately 1.5 times more common in individuals with diabetes than individuals without diabetes. In particular, inadequate glycemic control, the frequency of hypoglycemia, vascular diseases, insulin resistance, inflammatory cytokines and oxidative stress stand out as possible causes. Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) is a member of the neurotrophin family with growth factor properties. BDNF plays a critical role in cell differentiation, migration, and survivable synaptic plasticity of neurons. BDNF also has an important role in learning and memory processes through synapses in the hippocampus. BDNF levels have been shown to decrease in mild cognitive dysfunction or in late-onset Alzheimer's disease. In animal experiments, it has been observed that BDNF values increase with the use of metformin in Parkinson's disease. Similar results were obtained with vildagliptin, alogliptin, rosiglitazone, and exendin-4 in animal experiments.

The effects of drugs used in the treatment of diabetes on protecting or improving cognitive functions have been studied for a long time. Most of these studies are at the preclinical level. In previous studies with Glucagon-Like Peptide 1 (GLP-1) agonists and dipeptidyl peptidase 4 (DPP-4) inhibitors, there are data that both glycemia and incretins improve cognitive functions with their effects on brain structure. Similar positive results are seen for thiazolidinediones. While hyperglycemia control leads to positive results in insulin and sulfonylurea group drugs, the frequency of hypoglycemia can have a negative effect. There is not enough data on SGLT2 inhibitors.

Studies with SGLT2 inhibitors have shown a decrease in HbA1c values, weight loss, and a decrease in both systolic and diastolic blood pressure. Encouraging results have been obtained with SGLT2 inhibitors in both cardiac and renal outcomes, with heart failure in the foreground. As a result of these data, they are recommended as drugs that should be used in the foreground following metformin, especially in diabetic patients with cardiac and renal diseases. Animal studies with empagliflozin and canagliflozin show that both agents reduce cognitive impairment.

Our aim is to examine the effect of SGLT2 inhibitor use on cognitive functions and BDNF, one of the neuroinflammatory markers.

• Study Type: Observational
• Enrollment (Actual): 25

Contacts and Locations

Study Locations

• Turkey
  • Istanbul, Turkey
    • Istanbul Medeniyet University Goztepe Research and TRaining Hospital

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: 60 years to 80 years (Adult, Older Adult)
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: No
• Genders Eligible for Study: All

• Sampling Method: Non-Probability Sample

Study Population

patients who refer to a diabetes outpatients clinics to an university hospital

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

• giving consent
• being 60 years old or older
• HbA1c concentrations between 6.5% and 8%
• using metformin as a single agent for at least 3 months
• diabetes age <10 years

Exclusion Criteria:

• having uncontrolled hypothyroidism, hyperthyroidism, or other diseases that may affect cognitive functions
• ketoacidosis or coma
• cerebrovascular disease or psychiatric disorder
• mental retardation, psychosis, dementia, brain trauma, epilepsy and other cerebral diseases
• alcohol or other substance abuse
• hearing loss
• Presence of diseases that will affect cognitive function such as chronic inflammatory diseases and respiratory system diseases
• chronic kidney failure (GFR <45)
• sleep apnea syndrome
• malignancy
• using a sulfonylurea or glinide

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Number of groups / cohorts

2

Cohorts and Interventions

Group / Cohort	Intervention / Treatment
Patients with type 2 diabetes-SGLT2 inh; patients with type 2 diabetes who were recently prescribed an SGLT2 inhibitor	Diagnostic test: MOCA cognitive evaluation test; Before starting their newly prescribed medication, we will apply MOCA and repeat it at the end of the trial.; Diagnostic test: BDNF levels; Before starting their newly prescribed medication, we will apply MOCA and repeat it at the end of the trial.; Other: SF-36 test; Before starting their newly prescribed medication, we will apply MOCA and repeat it at the end of the trial.; Diagnostic test: Geriatric depression test; Before starting their newly prescribed medication, we will apply MOCA and repeat it at the end of the trial.
Patients with type 2 diabetes-control; patients with type 2 diabetes who were recently prescribed a pre-defined antidiabetic medication other than SGLT2 inhibitors	Diagnostic test: MOCA cognitive evaluation test; Before starting their newly prescribed medication, we will apply MOCA and repeat it at the end of the trial.; Diagnostic test: BDNF levels; Before starting their newly prescribed medication, we will apply MOCA and repeat it at the end of the trial.; Other: SF-36 test; Before starting their newly prescribed medication, we will apply MOCA and repeat it at the end of the trial.; Diagnostic test: Geriatric depression test; Before starting their newly prescribed medication, we will apply MOCA and repeat it at the end of the trial.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Cognitive functions	We will observe the effects of SGLT2 inhibitors and other oral antidiabetic agents on cognitive functions in type 2 diabetic patients using Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MOCA) test	Six months
BDNF concentrations	We will observe the effects of SGLT2 inhibitors and other oral antidiabetic agents on BDNF levels in type 2 diabetic patients. We will also assess whether there is an association between cognitive functions and BDNF concentrations in these prespecified groups of patients.	Six months

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
36 item Short Form Survey (SF-36)	We will observe the effects of SGLT2 inhibitors and other oral antidiabetic agents on quality of life of life in type 2 diabetic patients using SF-36 survey.	Six months

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: Goztepe Training and Research Hospital
• Investigators: Principal Investigator: Ayşe N Erbakan, MD, Istanbul Medeniyet University Goztepe Research and TRaining Hospital; Study Chair: Mehmet Sargın, Prof, Istanbul Medeniyet University; Study Chair: Nazmiye Özbilgin, Prof, University of Health Sciences Siyami Ersek TCS Training and Research Hospital; Study Chair: Aytekin Oğuz, Prof, Istanbul Medeniyet University

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (Actual): March 1, 2021
• Primary Completion (Actual): November 30, 2021
• Study Completion (Actual): November 30, 2021

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: October 17, 2021
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: April 16, 2022
• First Posted (Actual): April 22, 2022

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Actual): April 22, 2022
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: April 16, 2022
• Last Verified: April 1, 2022

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Keywords: type 2 diabetes; SGLT2 inhibitors; BDNF; cognitive impairment
• Additional Relevant MeSH Terms: Mental Disorders; Glucose Metabolism Disorders; Metabolic Diseases; Neurocognitive Disorders; Endocrine System Diseases; Cognition Disorders; Diabetes Mellitus; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2; Cognitive Dysfunction
• Other Study ID Numbers: Cognitive-BDNF

Drug and device information, study documents

• product manufactured in and exported from the U.S.: No