Title:Associations of Plasma BACE1 Level and BACE1 C786G Gene Polymorphism with Cognitive Functions in Patients with Type 2 Diabetes: A Cross- Sectional Study
Volume: 17
Issue: 4
Author(s): Sai Tian, Rong Huang, Dan Guo, Hongyan Lin, Jiaqi Wang, Ke An and Shaohua Wang *
Affiliation:
- Department of Endocrinology, Affiliated Zhongda Hospital of Southeast University, No.87 DingJiaQiao Road, Nanjing,China
Keywords:
β-Site APP-cleaving enzyme 1, gene polymorphism, type 2 diabetes mellitus, mild cognitive impairment, insulin
resistance, montreal cognitive assessment.
Abstract:
Background: β-Site APP-cleaving enzyme 1 (BACE1) is a key enzyme involved in the
pathophysiology of Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus (T2DM) and Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI). We
aimed to investigate the potential associations of plasma BACE1 levels and BACE1 gene polymorphism
with different cognitive performances in T2DM patients with MCI.
Methods: The recruited 186 T2DM subjects were divided into 92 MCI group and 94 healthy-cognition
controls, according to the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) scores. Sociodemographic characteristics,
clinical parameters and neuropsychological tests were assessed. BACE1 C786G gene polymorphism
and plasma BACE1 level were determined.
Results: Compared to controls, MCI patients exhibited higher plasma BACE1 levels. Plasma BACE1
levels were negatively associated with MoCA, Clock Drawing Test and Logical Memory Test scores,
whereas positively associated with Trail Making Test-B time in the MCI group (all p<0.05), after adjusting
fasting blood glucose, glycosylated hemoglobin, and homeostasis model assessment of insulin
resistance by C-peptide. Multivariable logistic regression analysis showed a significant trend towards
increased MCI risk with high plasma BACE1 level in T2DM patients (OR = 1.492, p = 0.027). The
plasma BACE1 levels of GG and GC genotypes were obviously higher than that of CC genotype in
T2DM-MCI patients (p = 0.035; p = 0.026, respectively).
Conclusion: Increased plasma BACE1 levels were associated with poor overall cognition functions,
especially visuospatial abilities, visual/logical memory and executive functions in T2DM-MCI patients.
Additionally, elevated plasma BACE1 level was a risk factor for MCI in T2DM patients, and might be
influenced by BACE1 C786G gene mutations.