Authors:
Lin A, Northam EA, Werther GA, Cameron FJ.
Authors notes:
Diabetes Care. 2015;38(2):236-42.
Keywords:
IQ, type 1 diabetes, childhood, young adulthood, illness onset, WASI
Abstract:
OBJECTIVE: This study examined illness-related change in intelligence quotient (IQ) in a cohort of youth with type 1 diabetes studied prospectively from disease onset in childhood to follow-up 12 years later in late adolescence/early adulthood.
RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS: Participants included type 1 diabetes patients (n = 95; mean age at follow-up 21.3 years) and healthy control participants (HCs; n = 67; mean age at follow-up 21.0 years) froma cohort followed prospectively.
Measures included Wechsler Preschool and Primary Scale of Intelligence-Revised, Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children-Revised, and Wechsler Abbreviated Scale of Intelligence and prospective collection of data on metabolic control history.
RESULTS: Young people with type 1 diabetes showed greater decline in verbal IQ (VIQ) and full-scale IQ (FSIQ), but not performance IQ (PIQ), than HCs.
Within the diabetes group, a younger age at diabetes onset was associated with a decline in PIQ and FSIQ (P ≤ 0.001).
A history of hypoglycemic seizures was associated with a decline in VIQ (P = 0.002).
Long-termmetabolic controlwas not associated with changes in IQ.
Interaction terms were not significant, suggesting no moderating effect of one diabetes-related variable over another.
CONCLUSIONS: The presence of diabetes may negatively influence some aspects of IQ over time.
Specific illness risk factors, such as an earlier age of disease onset and a history of hypoglycemic seizures, appear to put the young person at greater risk.
Academic progress of children identified as at risk should be monitored and educational supports provided if necessary.