Neuropsychological profiles of young people with type 1 diabetes 12 yr after disease onset

  1. Ashleigh Lin1,*,
  2. Elisabeth A Northam1,2,3,
  3. Debbie Rankins1,
  4. George A Werther4,
  5. Fergus J Cameron4

Article first published online: 7 JAN 2010

DOI: 10.1111/j.1399-5448.2009.00588.x

Issue

Pediatric Diabetes

Pediatric Diabetes

Volume 11, Issue 4, pages 235–243, June 2010

Additional Information

How to Cite

Lin, A., Northam, E. A., Rankins, D., Werther, G. A. and Cameron, F. J. (2010), Neuropsychological profiles of young people with type 1 diabetes 12 yr after disease onset. Pediatric Diabetes, 11: 235–243. doi: 10.1111/j.1399-5448.2009.00588.x

Author Information

  1. 1

    Murdoch Childrens Research Institute, Royal Children's Hospital, Melbourne, Australia

  2. 2

    Department of Psychology, Royal Children's Hospital, Melbourne, Australia

  3. 3

    Department of Psychology, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia

  4. 4

    Department of Endocrinology and Diabetes, Royal Children's Hospital, Melbourne, Australia

*Ashleigh Lin, Murdoch Childrens Research Institute, Royal Children's Hospital, Parkville, Victoria 3052, Australia. Tel: +61-3-8344-8959; Fax: +61-3-9347-6618; e-mail: ashlin@unimelb.edu.au

Publication History

  1. Issue published online: 28 MAY 2010
  2. Article first published online: 7 JAN 2010
  3. Submitted 17 March 2009. Accepted for publication 22 July 2009

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Keywords:

  • brain;
  • early onset diabetes;
  • hyperglycemia;
  • hypoglycemia;
  • neurocognitive

Lin A, Northam EA, Rankins D, Werther GA, Cameron FJ. Neuropsychological profiles of young people with type 1 diabetes 12 yr after disease onset.

Background: Lowered neuropsychological performance is evident in youth with type 1 diabetes, although evidence for associations with specific illness variables is inconsistent. This study examined the neuropsychological profiles of a cohort of youth with type 1 diabetes studied prospectively from diagnosis 12 yr previously.

Methods: A total of 106 youth with type 1 diabetes and 75 healthy controls participated. There were no significant group differences on Full-scale IQ assessed on study entry 12 yr previously, current socioeconomic status, gender distribution, or age. Neuropsychological tests assessed eight cognitive domains: verbal abilities, perceptual reasoning, new learning, working memory, non-verbal processing speed, mental efficiency, divided attention, and sustained attention. Episodes of serious hypoglycemia and HbA1c levels were recorded from diagnosis.

Results: Youth with type 1 diabetes performed more poorly than controls on working memory (p < .05). Early onset diabetes was related to poorer sustained (p < .001) and divided attention (p = .001), new learning, and mental efficiency (both p < .05). Hypoglycemia was found to adversely effect verbal abilities, working memory, and non-verbal processing speed (all p < .05). Poorer working memory was associated with hyperglycemia (p < .05). Youth with any combination of two or three illness risk factors (i.e., early onset diabetes, hypo-, hyperglycemia), performed more poorly than controls and youth with no or one risk on verbal abilities, working memory, and mental efficiency.

Conclusions: This study documents poorer neuropsychological performance and its association with illness risk factors in youth with type 1 diabetes. Findings suggest that early disease onset and hypoglycemia impact on the developing central nervous system, with hyperglycemia playing a lesser role.

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