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Changes in Brain Volumetric Measures Associated With Type 1 Diabetes Depict an Evolutionary Adaptation Process to
Andrés Antonio González-Garrido1, Geisa Bearitz Gallardo-Moreno1, José Manuel Gómez-Barba1
1Instituto de Neurociencias, Universidad de Guadalajara, Guadalajara, Mexico.
Diabetes/Metabolism Research and Reviews
|April 17, 2026
Summary
Type 1 diabetes in young adults is linked to subtle brain volume reductions, particularly in subcortical gray matter and specific brain regions. These early brain changes may reflect the condition's impact on the developing brain.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Endocrinology
- Radiology
Background:
- Type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM) is associated with cognitive deficits and brain volume reduction.
- Early T1DM may impact brain structures crucial for executive functions and working memory.
- Developmental demands on the brain in T1DM patients warrant investigation into volumetric and anatomical changes.
Purpose of the Study:
- To compare brain volumetric measures and anatomical associations in young adults with T1DM and healthy controls.
- To investigate early-onset brain alterations in clinically well-controlled T1DM.
- To explore the relationship between disease duration, age at onset, and brain morphology.
Main Methods:
- MRI scans (3-T) were acquired for 41 T1DM patients (18-30 years, ≥10 years disease duration) and 41 matched controls.
- Volumetric measures and cortical thickness were computed from processed gray and white matter.
- Graph-theoretical analyses were performed on brain network topology.
Main Results:
- No significant difference in global cortical volumes between groups.
- T1DM patients showed significantly lower subcortical gray matter volume.
- Reduced volumes observed in cerebellar white matter, vermis, brainstem, putamen, and thalamus, correlating with disease duration and onset age.
- Alterations in brain network topology were detected in the T1DM group.
Conclusions:
- Early brain alterations in microstructural integrity and organization occur in young, well-controlled T1DM patients.
- These morphological changes may represent adaptive responses to cognitive and environmental demands in the developing brain.
- Findings highlight the subtle, early impact of T1DM on brain development.
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