Attentional functioning in children and adolescents with IDDM

Area of Science:

• Neuroscience
• Developmental Psychology
• Endocrinology

Background:

• Type 1 diabetes, or insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (IDDM), affects children and adolescents.
• Cognitive functions, particularly attention, may be impacted by IDDM.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate specific attentional cognitive processes in children and adolescents with IDDM.
• To identify which components of attention are disrupted and their potential correlations with diabetes-related factors.

Main Methods:

• A cohort of 103 children and adolescents with IDDM and 100 healthy controls (ages 9.3-18.3 years) were assessed.
• Multiple clinical and computerized tests evaluated components of attention: focus, select, shift, suppress, inhibit, and sustain.
• Diabetic history and blood glucose levels were recorded.

Main Results:

• IDDM subjects showed deficits primarily in the 'select' component of attention, especially those with early-onset diabetes.
• A history of seizures from hypoglycemia was associated with lower verbal IQ and poorer performance in 'select', 'focus', and 'inhibit' attention.
• Higher blood glucose levels correlated with impaired ability to inhibit responses; 'inhibit' and 'focus' were predicted by onset age and blood glucose.

Conclusions:

• Attention is impaired in specific aspects among children and adolescents with IDDM.
• These attentional deficits are influenced by the history of seizures due to hypoglycemia and current blood glucose levels.
• Findings suggest both organizational and activational effects of diabetes on attentional subcomponents.