Brain Changes May Accompany Type 1 Diabetes Diagnosis in Kids
Complication called ketoacidosis can affect memory, thinking for six months, reports study
FRIDAY, May 23, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- A serious complication of type 1 diabetes called diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) can cause temporary changes to the brain matter of children newly diagnosed with the disease, researchers say.
What's more, those changes may cause a decrease in memory and attention that persists for at least half a year following the diagnosis of type 1 diabetes, the new study reports.
"Children and adolescents diagnosed with type 1 diabetes with diabetic ketoacidosis have evidence of brain gray matter shrinkage and white matter swelling," said the study's lead author, Dr. Fergus Cameron, head of diabetes services at Royal Children's Hospital in Victoria, Australia. "While these changes resolve within the first week, there are associated residual cognitive changes -- memory and attention -- that are present six months after diagnosis."
Even if they're subtle, these variations "have the potential to affect higher-level learning tasks," he added.
Each year, approximately 30,000 U.S. adults and children are diagnosed with type 1 diabetes, according to JDRF (formerly the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation). And the incidence of type 1 diabetes has increased dramatically in recent years.
Type 1 diabetes occurs when the immune system mistakenly destroys the insulin-producing cells in the body. This leaves the person with type 1 diabetes with little or no insulin, a hormone needed to convert food into fuel for the body's cells.
As time passes without treatment, the body begins to burn fat for fuel. Byproducts of this process are acids called ketones, according to the American Diabetes Association. High levels of ketones can poison the body and cause diabetic ketoacidosis.
Cameron said between 20 and 30 percent of people newly diagnosed with type 1 have diabetic ketoacidosis. The condition can also develop later in type 1, when problems with diabetes management arise.
The current study, released online May 22 in Diabetes Care, included 36 children and teens with diabetic ketoacidosis and 59 without it. All were newly diagnosed with type 1 diabetes and between 6 and 18 years old.
All had MRIs done of their brains at two days, five days, 28 days and six months after diagnosis. They also took tests of memory and attention at similar time points.
Brain Changes & Type 1 Diabetes Diagnosis in Kids
Complication called ketoacidosis can affect memory, thinking for six months, reports study
FRIDAY, May 23, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- A serious complication of type 1 diabetes called diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) can cause temporary changes to the brain matter of children newly diagnosed with the disease, researchers say.
What's more, those changes may cause a decrease in memory and attention that persists for at least half a year following the diagnosis of type 1 diabetes, the new study reports.
"Children and adolescents diagnosed with type 1 diabetes with diabetic ketoacidosis have evidence of brain gray matter shrinkage and white matter swelling," said the study's lead author, Dr. Fergus Cameron, head of diabetes services at Royal Children's Hospital in Victoria, Australia. "While these changes resolve within the first week, there are associated residual cognitive changes -- memory and attention -- that are present six months after diagnosis."
Even if they're subtle, these variations "have the potential to affect higher-level learning tasks," he added.
Each year, approximately 30,000 U.S. adults and children are diagnosed with type 1 diabetes, according to JDRF (formerly the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation). And the incidence of type 1 diabetes has increased dramatically in recent years.
Type 1 diabetes occurs when the immune system mistakenly destroys the insulin-producing cells in the body. This leaves the person with type 1 diabetes with little or no insulin, a hormone needed to convert food into fuel for the body's cells.
As time passes without treatment, the body begins to burn fat for fuel. Byproducts of this process are acids called ketones, according to the American Diabetes Association. High levels of ketones can poison the body and cause diabetic ketoacidosis.
Cameron said between 20 and 30 percent of people newly diagnosed with type 1 have diabetic ketoacidosis. The condition can also develop later in type 1, when problems with diabetes management arise.
The current study, released online May 22 in Diabetes Care, included 36 children and teens with diabetic ketoacidosis and 59 without it. All were newly diagnosed with type 1 diabetes and between 6 and 18 years old.
All had MRIs done of their brains at two days, five days, 28 days and six months after diagnosis. They also took tests of memory and attention at similar time points.
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