Brain changes in young children with new-onset Type 1 diabetes
Official title: Cognitive, structural and functional impact of new onset type 1 diabetes on the brain of young children: Understanding risks and protective factors
Funded at Nemours Children's Clinic · NIH-11384687 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study follows young children recently diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes to understand how the condition affects their brain and what factors might protect or increase risk for learning and behavior problems.
Quick facts
| Grant type | U01 cooperative agreement |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Nemours Children's Clinic NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Jacksonville, United States) |
| Project start | August 15, 2024 |
| Project end | June 30, 2029 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $519,460 |
| NIH project number | 5U01DK140734-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-11384687 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal participants are prepubertal children recently diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes and age-matched peers without diabetes, willing to undergo regular assessments and neuroimaging.
✕Less likely to help
Some children may not experience noticeable cognitive or brain changes during the study period, and results may not immediately translate to individual treatment changes.
What this research studies
The BRAINY-T1D study is a multicenter, long-term effort to map neurocognitive and brain changes in prepubertal children after a new T1D diagnosis. Researchers will collect clinical data, neuroimaging, cognitive tests, and environmental factors using a harmonized protocol across centers. By comparing children with T1D to demographically similar peers without diabetes, the study aims to identify risk and protective factors that influence brain development over time. The work is designed to reveal mechanisms behind cognitive and behavioral outcomes to guide future interventions.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: Kids diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes could receive insights that help protect brain development and cognitive function through tailored care and monitoring.
How similar studies have gone: Prior research hints at links between glycemic events and cognitive outcomes, but this study’s large, longitudinal, harmonized design is needed to draw clearer conclusions.
Where this research is happening
-
Nemours Children's Clinic
Jacksonville, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Mauras, Nelly — Nemours Children's Clinic
- Study coordinator: Mauras, Nelly
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About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.