Abstract: Learning and memory dysfunction caused by diabetes is gaining an increased attention. Diabetes can significantly increasethe risk of dementia, including vascular dementia and Alzheimer's disease; and diabetes itself can lead to mild or moderate cognition decline.Many clinical and experimental datas indicated that deficiency of insulin or insulin resistance can significantly reduce the threshold of cognitivedysfunction and accelerate the progress of cognitive decline. This paper reviewed the effect of insulin and insulin resistance on cognitivefunction in diabetes.

Key words: diabetes mellitus, cognition, insulin, insulin resistance, hyperinsulinemia, review