Skip to content

Type 1 Diabetes and the Brain in Children

Type 1 Diabetes and the Brain in Children: Metabolic Interventions. Protocol #1: Longitudinal Assessment

Status
Completed
Phases
Unknown
Study type
Observational
Source
ClinicalTrials.gov
Registry ID
NCT02351466
Enrollment
221
Registered
2015-01-30
Start date
2015-03-31
Completion date
2018-12-31
Last updated
2020-10-22

For informational purposes only — not medical advice. Sourced from public registries and may not reflect the latest updates. Terms

Conditions

Diabetes Mellitus, Type 1

Keywords

Brain Growth and Development, Cognition, Children, Continuous Glucose Monitoring, MRI, Functional MRI

Brief summary

The investigators have previously studied a group of young children with T1D using brain MRI, age-appropriate neurocognitive testing and continuous glucose monitoring, followed for 18 months. The investigators observed significant differences in gray matter volumes and white matter microstructure in the children with diabetes as compared to controls. These differences appeared to increase over time, with slower rates of brain growth in the T1D group (Mazelli, et al, Diabetes 2014; Barnea-Goraly, et al, Diabetes Care 2014; Mauras, et al, Diabetes 2015). In this new protocol the investigators will include the same children with T1D and healthy controls previously studied and recruit new similar subjects to replace those lost by attrition. The investigators will be using structural and functional brain MRI, neurocognitive testing and measures of glycemic control, to determine if changes in the brain persist or worsen over longitudinal follow up, and whether these changes are associated with measures of glycemic control and neurocognitive metrics as these children grow and progress through puberty.

Detailed description

Study participation will last about 2 to 2 1/12 years and will include a brain MRI without sedation, as well as a functional MRI and neurocognitive testing. The children with T1D will wear a continuous glucose monitor (CGM), will follow up every 3 months and will be asked to wear the CGM each time. The structural and functional MRI and neurocognitive testing will be repeated 2 yrs from baseline. The healthy controls will also undergo MRI and cognitive testing as well as have a blood sample at baseline and after 2 years. Parents of newly recruited subjects will also have abbreviated IQ testing.

Interventions

OTHERObservational

Sponsors

Stanford University
CollaboratorOTHER
Washington University School of Medicine
CollaboratorOTHER
Yale University
CollaboratorOTHER
University of Iowa
CollaboratorOTHER
Nemours Children's Clinic
Lead SponsorOTHER

Study design

Observational model
COHORT
Time perspective
PROSPECTIVE

Eligibility

Sex/Gender
ALL
Age
7 Years to 16 Years
Healthy volunteers
Yes

Inclusion criteria

for T1 Diabetes Group: * Diabetes diagnosed after age 6 months * Gestational age \>34 weeks, birth weight \>2kg Inclusion Criteria for Healthy Control Group: * Normal HbA1C and fasting blood glucose * Negative diabetes auto-antibodies (those that are siblings of T1D patients) * Gestational age \>34 weeks, birth weight \>2kg

Exclusion criteria

for Both Groups: * History of mental retardation, language or learning disability * Known genetic or medical problem that could impair brain development * Abnormality of the brain/nervous system, visual or hearing problem * History of seizures not associated with fever * Previous inpatient psychiatric treatment * Unable to have a MRI of the head due to metal appliances

Design outcomes

Primary

MeasureTime frameDescription
Changes in total and regional gray and white matter volumes and white matter microstructure.2 yearsStructural MRIs of children with T1 diabetes will be compared to age- and sex-matched, non-diabetic healthy controls. We will investigate whether these changes are associated with measures of glycemic control and neurocognitive metrics as these children grow and progress through puberty. The present cohorts (T1D and controls) of young children will be followed for 2 more years with similar studies repeated 2 years apart. Overall glycemic profiles will continue to be obtained every 3 months longitudinally between scans with CGM and HbA1c for children with Type 1 Diabetes.

Secondary

MeasureTime frameDescription
Measures of activation of frontal-parietal networks and functional connectivity of resting state networks using blood oxygen level dependent (BOLD)-functional MRI.2 years
Changes in Neurocognitive metrics including IQ as well as executive and visual-spatial memory.2 yearsWe will perform neurocognitive metrics reflecting frontal, parietal-occipital and hippocampal function. Children with T1D will be followed longitudinally and compared with controls to determine whether these differences are associated with measures of glycemic control.

Countries

United States

Outcome results

None listed

Source: ClinicalTrials.gov · Data processed: Feb 4, 2026