Neuro-cognitive Performance in Children with Type 1 Diabetes—A Meta-analysis

Objective To conduct meta-analyses of neuropsychological performance in young people with type 1 diabetes. Methods Meta-analysis of 24 studies. Studies published between 1980 and 2005 were identified. The inclusion criteria were: young people who were 19 years of age with type 1 diabetes, a case–control design and standardized neuropsychological tests of seven cognitive domains. Results Diabetes was statistically associated with poorer performance on visuospatial ability (d0.29), motor speed (d0.26) and writing (d0.28), on sustained attention (d0.21) and reading (d0.23). Smaller effects were identified on full IQ (d0.14), on performance (d0.18) and verbal IQ (d0.15). Severe hypoglycemia was linked to deficits in short-term verbal memory (d0.14; Confidence Interval: 0.318, 0.024; p .04). Conclusions This meta-analysis indicates that children with type 1 diabetes have mild cognitive impairments and subtly reduced overall intellectual functioning. Key words diabetes; meta-analysis; neuro-cognitive; pediatric. Type 1 diabetes is one of the commonest chronic diseases of childhood affecting three per 1,000 children in Europe between 0 and 15 years of age, and 1.7 per 1,000 children in USA between 0 and 19 years of age (CDC, n.d.)