Understanding how Type 1 Diabetes affects brain development in children
Official title: Mapping Neurocognitive Complications of Pediatric Type 1 Diabetes (T1D) and Potential Risk and Protective Factors
Funded at Univ of North Carolina Chapel Hill · NIH-10974858 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at how Type 1 Diabetes affects the thinking skills of young kids, exploring how things like high blood sugar can impact their brain development, so we can better understand and support children who might struggle with attention, learning, and memory.
Quick facts
| Grant type | U01 cooperative agreement |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Univ of North Carolina Chapel Hill NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Chapel Hill, United States) |
| Project start | August 15, 2024 |
| Project end | June 30, 2029 |
| Funding year | 2024 |
| Award (this year) | $269,730 |
| NIH project number | 1U01DK140764-01 |
| Project ID | NIH-10974858 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are children diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus, particularly those who are prepubertal.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who do not have Type 1 Diabetes or are older than the prepubertal age range may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research investigates the cognitive challenges faced by prepubertal children with Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus (T1DM) and aims to uncover the biological and psychosocial factors that contribute to these challenges. By examining the impact of various stressors, such as hyperglycemia and diabetic ketoacidosis, on brain development, the study seeks to identify children at risk for cognitive deficits. The research employs advanced neuroimaging techniques to assess brain structure and function, providing insights into how T1DM may alter cognitive abilities related to attention, learning, and memory. Through this multidisciplinary approach, the study aims to fill critical gaps in understanding the neurocognitive implications of T1DM in children.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to better strategies for preventing cognitive disabilities in children with Type 1 Diabetes.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research has indicated that diabetes can impact brain function, but this study aims to explore these effects in a novel longitudinal context specifically for children.
Where this research is happening
-
Univ of North Carolina Chapel Hill
Chapel Hill, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Belger, Aysenil — Univ of North Carolina Chapel Hill
- Study coordinator: Belger, Aysenil
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
-
Understanding brain changes in kids with new Type 1 diabetes
A multicenter study will follow young children with Type 1 diabetes and similar peers without diabetes to look for factors that influence brain development and thinking skills.
-
Neurocognitive health in young kids with Type 1 diabetes and factors that help or hurt
A study following young children with Type 1 diabetes to understand how the condition affects thinking skills and behavior, and what factors might protect or worsen these effects.
-
Understanding Brain Changes in Children with Type 1 Diabetes
This research aims to understand how Type 1 Diabetes affects brain development and thinking skills in children.
-
Brain Health in Young Children with Type 1 Diabetes
This project looks at how Type 1 Diabetes affects brain development and thinking skills in young children.
-
Improving access to continuous glucose monitoring for children with type 1 diabetes.
This study is looking at how things like race and income affect whether kids with type 1 diabetes can use continuous glucose monitors (CGMs), and it aims to find ways to make sure all children have better access to this helpful technology for managing their diabetes.
-
Investigating how type 1 diabetes affects brain development in young children
This study is looking at how type 1 diabetes affects the brain and thinking skills in young kids, and it’s inviting children with diabetes and those without to help us learn more by doing some fun brain tests and scans over a couple of years.
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.