Understanding Brain Health in Children with Type 1 Diabetes

Neurocognitive Complications of Pediatric Type 1 Diabetes: Identifying Modifiable Risk and Protective Factors

NIH-funded research Vanderbilt University Medical Center · NIH-11169909

This project looks at how type 1 diabetes might affect brain function in children, especially memory and learning, to find ways to help them.

Quick facts

Grant typeU01 cooperative agreement
Study typeNIH-funded research
Funding institutionVanderbilt University Medical Center NIH-funded
Lab location1 site (Nashville, United States)
Project IDNIH-11169909 on NIH RePORTER

What this research studies

Children with type 1 diabetes sometimes experience small changes in how their brain works, particularly with memory and learning. This project aims to understand why these changes happen and what factors might protect or put children at risk. We will follow a large group of school-aged children newly diagnosed with type 1 diabetes, along with a similar group of children without diabetes, over time. By including a diverse group of children, we hope to discover specific factors that can be changed to improve brain health.

Who could benefit from this research

Good fit: Ideal candidates for future participation would be school-aged children newly diagnosed with type 1 diabetes, as well as school-aged children without diabetes, from diverse backgrounds.

Not a fit: Patients who are adults or have had type 1 diabetes for a long time may not directly benefit from this specific project focused on newly diagnosed children.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this work could lead to new strategies to protect and improve brain function in children living with type 1 diabetes.

How similar studies have performed: Previous studies have shown mixed results and were often limited by sample size or age range, highlighting the need for this larger, prospective approach.

Where this research is happening

Nashville, United States

Researchers

About this research

  1. This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
  2. Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
  3. For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.
Last reviewed 2026-06-13 by the Find a Trial editorial team. Information on this page is for educational purposes and is not medical advice. Always consult qualified healthcare professionals about clinical trial participation.