Assessment of cognitive function in young children with type 1 diabetes mellitus using electrophysiological tests
Ahmed Zein-Elabedein1, Wafaa Moustafa M Abo El-Fotoh2, Walla Mamdouh Al Shourah3
1Department of ENT (Audiology Unit), Menoufia University, Shebin Elkom, Egypt.
Insights
Children with type 1 diabetes show cognitive decline and increased risk of hearing loss. Poor diabetes control, indicated by HbA1c levels, is linked to cognitive impairment in these children.
Area of Science:
- Pediatrics
- Endocrinology
- Neuroscience
Background:
- Type 1 diabetes mellitus impacts multiple body systems, including nervous and auditory functions.
- Research on cognitive and auditory effects of type 1 diabetes in children is limited.
- Understanding these effects is crucial for comprehensive patient care.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess cognitive and auditory functions in children with type 1 diabetes.
- To correlate glycemic control (HbA1c) with cognitive function in pediatric patients.
- To investigate auditory pathway integrity in children with type 1 diabetes.
Main Methods:
- A case-control study involving 100 children (50 with type 1 diabetes, 50 healthy controls).
- Utilized pure tone audiometry, speech recognition threshold, and immittancemetry.
- Measured cortical auditory evoked potentials (CAEPs) and P300 potentials.
Main Results:
- Patients exhibited significantly prolonged P300 and CAEPs latency and decreased amplitude compared to controls (p < 0.001).
- P300 and CAEPs latency positively correlated with HbA1c levels (r = 0.460).
- Significant hearing threshold differences at 8000 Hz were observed, with 28% of patients having bilateral sensorineural hearing loss at 8 kHz.
Conclusions:
- Prolonged P300/CAEPs latency and reduced amplitude suggest cognitive decline in children with type 1 diabetes.
- Elevated HbA1c levels may increase the risk of cognitive impairment.
- Children with type 1 diabetes have an increased risk of bilateral sensorineural hearing loss at 8 kHz.
Background/Objectives:
Diabetes mellitus is a chronic disease that affects many body systems, including the nervous and auditory systems. It is noted that there is a scarcity of research on the effect of diabetes on cognitive functions in particular and auditory functions in general in children with type 1 diabetes. Therefore, this study was designed to assess cognitive and auditory functions in children with type 1 diabetes mellitus and to correlate the reflection of diabetes control on cognitive functions.
Methods:
This study is a case-control study that included 100 children divided into two groups, the patient group, which includes 50 children with type 1 diabetes, and the control group, which consists of 50 healthy children. Subjects in the current study were submitted to pure tone audiometry, speech recognition threshold test, immittancemetry study, and measurement of cortical auditory evoked and P300 potentials (CAEPs and P300). These audiometric measures were statistically analyzed and correlated with the clinical characteristics of the study group.
Results:
The latency of P300 and CAEPs was significantly increased while the amplitude of P300 and CAEPs was significantly decreased in the patient group compared to the control group (p < 0.001). P300 and CAEPs latency has a positive correlation with HbA1c levels (r = 0.460). In addition, there was significant differences between the two groups regarding the hearing threshold at 8000 Hz, and 28% of patients had bilateral sensorineural hearing loss (SNHL) at 8 kHz.
Conclusion:
The prolonged P300 and CAEPs latency and decreased amplitude in patients indicate a cognitive decline in individuals with type 1 diabetes compared to healthy individuals. HbA1c levels may increase the risk of cognitive impairment in children. In addition, the risk of bilateral SNHL increased at 8 kHz in children with type 1 diabetes mellitus.
