A groundbreaking longitudinal study led by the Keck School of Medicine at USC is set to explore the effects of type 1 diabetes on brain development in children. This extensive five-year project, supported by a $2.7 million grant from the National Institutes of Health, will involve collaboration among 12 research centers across the United States.
While significant cognitive impairment is known to affect nearly half of adults with type 1 diabetes, including issues with working memory and executive function, less is understood about the impact on children during critical periods of brain development. This study aims to fill that gap by examining various factors—environmental, lifestyle, social, and clinical—that influence brain development in newly diagnosed diabetic children.
The research team, led by Dr. Kathleen Alanna Page, an associate professor of medicine at the Keck School, will recruit over 1,000 children for this study. This marks one of the first large-scale efforts to investigate the neurocognitive effects of type 1 diabetes in this age group, with a notable focus on recruiting a diverse group of participants across racial, ethnic, and income backgrounds, an aspect often overlooked in previous studies.
Dr. Page emphasized the study’s goal: “We want to understand the factors that might either exacerbate or mitigate brain-related complications in children newly diagnosed with type 1 diabetes.”
The findings from this study are expected to refine clinical guidelines for managing type 1 diabetes, particularly in determining the safest glucose levels for healthy brain development. The research could also contribute to creating targeted treatments, including adjustments in sleep, diet, and physical activity, tailored to individual patient needs.
The study will leverage advanced technologies such as continuous glucose monitors and insulin pumps to gather real-time data on glucose fluctuations. This information will be compared with brain health data to fine-tune clinical guidelines and targets for glucose management.
Additionally, functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) will be used to study brain structure, function, and development noninvasively. This combination of advanced monitoring and imaging techniques represents a significant step forward in understanding the relationship between glucose levels and brain health.
The research team will collect data on academic performance, memory, attention, and neurobehavioral outcomes, including anxiety and behavioral health, to assess brain development. The study will commence with the creation of a detailed protocol by researchers from all participating sites, with Dr. Page leading from the Southern California hub, supported by co-principal investigators Dr. Jennifer Raymond and Dr. Anny H. Xiang.
“This study is a unique opportunity for the Keck School to apply its resources and expertise to a critical question, leveraging our diverse population to drive meaningful insights,” Dr. Page stated.
The study promises to provide valuable insights into how type 1 diabetes affects brain development in children and pave the way for improved management and treatment strategies.
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