Background: The triglyceride glucose (TyG) index reflects insulin resistance; the latter being associated with mild cognitive impairment (MCI).
Objective: To investigate the clinical value of the TyG index to identify MCI in patients living with type 2 diabetes (T2D) using a cross-sectional study.
Methods: This cross-sectional study was performed on 517 patients with T2D. The diagnosis of MCI was based on criteria established by the National Institute on Aging-Alzheimer’s Association workgroup, and patients were divided into the MCI group and the normal cognitive function (NCF) group. The logistic regression analysis determines whether the TyG index is related to MCI. Subsequently, we constructed the receiver operating characteristic curve (ROC) and calculated the area under the curve (AUC). The nomogram model of the influence factor was established and verified.
Results: Compared to the type 2 diabetes-normal cognitive function (T2D-NCF) group, the MCI subjects were olderand had higher TyG indexes, lower cognitive scores, and lower education levels (p < 0.01). After adjusting for the confounders, the TyG index was associated with MCI (OR = 7.37, 95% CI = 4.72– 11.50, p < 0.01), and TyG-BMI was also associated with MCI (OR = 1.02, 95% CI = 1.01– 1.02, p< 0.01). The TyG index AUC was 0.79 (95% CI = 0.76– 0.83). The consistency index of the nomogram was 0. 83[95% CI (0. 79, 0. 86)].
Conclusion: Our results indicate that the TyG index and TyG-BMI are associated with MCI in T2D patients, and the TyG index is an excellent indicator of the risk of MCI in T2D patients. The nomogram incorporating the TyG index is useful to predict MCI risk in patients with T2D.
Keywords: triglyceride glucose index, TyG, mild cognitive impairment, MCI, insulin resistance, IR, type 2 diabetes, T2D