Ñî¹óåú´«Ã½ undergraduate students achieve an international publication in geriatric research
- Ñî¹óåú´«Ã½ Faculty of Health Sciences
A team of Graduate Entry Medical Programme (GEMP) students has achieved an extraordinary research milestone by publishing their report in BMC Geriatrics.
Publication at this level is rare among undergraduate researchers and speaks to both the quality of the science and the rigour with which the project was conducted.
The research , titled ‘The performance of a novel, diabetes-specific cognitive screening tool against the MoCA in older adults with type 2 diabetes’, was first presented at the flagship Physicians Update 2026 Congress, where it won the Best Research Poster award, competing against senior applicants, including master’s and PhD candidates.
Addressing cognitive impairment in type 2 diabetes
The students, Husnaa Choonara, Caitlyn Goncalves, Wakhile Mabuza, Mashienyane Mapatlare, Zainab Modan, Mbali Musundwa, Muzzammil Tayob and Azeemah Thokan, focused on developing and evaluating a new, brief cognitive screening tool tailored specifically for older adults living with type 2 diabetes.
GEMP 2 student research team (L-R): Mashienyane Mapatlare, Muzzammil Tayob, Azeemah Thokan, Zainab Modan, Husnaa Choonara and Wakhile Mabuza. (Kneeling): Mbali Musundwa and Caitlyn Gonçalves.
Type 2 diabetes is among the most prevalent non-communicable diseases globally, and its burden is particularly pronounced in older adults. Cognitive impairment is an important complication of diabetes and directly impacts patients’ ability to self-manage the disease, including making lifestyle changes, administering medication and monitoring glucose levels.
Introducing a novel screening tool
The team designed the Diabetic Cognitive Assessment Tool (DCAT), a novel, diabetes-specific tool that could enable earlier recognition of cognitive impairment and intervention. It supports the preservation of patients’ mobility and independence, addressing an important clinical and public health gap.
“Cognitive impairment is a common but often under-recognised complication of diabetes, particularly in ageing populations and resource-constrained clinical settings. Existing screening tools are not designed to capture the specific cognitive profile associated with diabetes-related vascular and metabolic changes,” explains Muzzammil Tayob, one of the team’s lead authors.
Apart from being among the few international studies to evaluate a diabetes-specific cognitive screening tool, Tayob says this study provides a practical and efficient innovation “that could be used in busy, resource-constrained settings such as ours in South Africa”.
This focus on accessibility and feasibility is important for fostering research that addresses real-world problems and improves patient outcomes.
Key clinical implications
Their article found that DCAT demonstrated considerable discriminative ability for detecting cognitive impairment among older adults with type 2 diabetes mellitus, compared with the Montreal Cognitive Assessment, an existing screening tool. It is quicker to administer and more focused on diabetes-relevant cognitive domains.
The study found that DCAT effectively assesses key cognitive domains, particularly executive function and memory.
It demonstrated that “poorer glycaemic control and depressive symptoms were associated with lower cognitive performance, whereas greater educational attainment was linked to better outcomes”, explains Tayob.
Student reflections on research
He says that undergraduate research should not be viewed as a burden, but rather as an opportunity to contribute meaningfully to conversations around improving patient care.
Reflecting on the process, he shares: “Approached with a growth mindset, undergraduate research can be a transformative experience that shapes the way you think, write and critically evaluate established norms.”
The role of mentorship
Research Poster Presentation at the 2026 Ñî¹óåú´«Ã½ Physicians Update. Name all L-R
The work was supervised by Professor Farzahna Mohamed, Acting Clinical Head of the Division of Endocrinology and Metabolism, and Dr Anu Mathew, specialist geriatrician at Charlotte Maxeke Johannesburg Academic Hospital.
“As a supervisor, it has been deeply rewarding to witness the passion, professionalism and growth of this cohort,” remarks Prof Mohamed, who has helped the team navigate every stage of the research process. Their journey is a powerful example of what undergraduate students can achieve when given the opportunity, support and encouragement to engage meaningfully with research.
She says undergraduate students can build a strong and sustainable research profile by starting with curiosity rather than chasing publications. She adds, “Every clinical encounter or patient case should be viewed as a potential research question. Good research begins by asking why this happens or whether it can be done better.”
Importantly, good mentorship can guide the process, teach research skills and help students grow gradually. It builds consistency, teamwork, ethics and critical thinking, all of which contribute to meaningful research careers.
Dr Mathew cautions that “research should complement learning and personal wellbeing rather than become a source of burnout”, an all-too-common phenomenon in academia.
Ongoing recognition and future opportunities
Building on this success, the team’s work was subsequently accepted for oral presentation at the national SEMDSA (Society for Endocrinology, Metabolism and Diabetes of South Africa) Endocrine Congress in 2026, a significant accomplishment at any stage of a career.