Children's brain development could be effected by type one diabetes, according to a new study published in the journal Diabetes.
A team of researchers studied children between four and nine years of age over the course of 18 months. Some had diabetes, while others did not. The children's brain developments were assessed by undergoing brain scans and tests to assess their mental abilities. Their blood sugar levels were continuously monitored.
Those who had type one diabetes appeared to have slower overall and regional growth of gray and white matter, reported Health Day.
Despite these findings, there was no apparent connection between the disease and cognition - their thinking and memory skills.
"Our results show the potential vulnerability of young developing brains to abnormally elevated glucose [blood sugar] levels, even when the diabetes duration has been relatively brief," lead author Dr. Nelly Mauras, chief of the division of endocrinology, diabetes and metabolism at Nemours Children's Clinic in Jacksonville, Fla., said in a clinic news release.
"Despite the best efforts of parents and diabetes care teams, about 50 percent of all blood glucose concentrations during the study were measured in the high range. Remarkably, the cognitive tests remained normal, but whether these observed changes will ultimately impact brain function will need further study," Mauras said.
The researchers in the study plan to follow the same children as they go through puberty to observe their brains using similar glucose monitoring, cognitive testing and MRI scans, including evaluation of brain function with functional MRI, reported PsychCentral.
