Abstract: Diabetic cognitive dysfunction is one of the important complications of diabetes mellitus. Insulin plays an important protective role in cognitive function through MAPK and PI3-K/Akt signaling pathway. Insulin resistance may give rise to excessive tau protein phosphorylation, formation of neurofibrillary tangles; competitively inhibit insulin degrading enzyme, reduce the degradation of amyloid β; enhance oxidative stress, further damage the integrity of the neuronal structure and function, eventually lead to cognitive dysfunction.

Key words: type 2 diabetes mellitus, Alzheimer’s disease, insulin resistance, cognitive dysfunction