# Glycemic Variability and Fluctuations in Cognitive Status in Adults with Type 1 Diabetes

> **NIH NIH R01** · MCLEAN HOSPITAL · 2020 · $326,537

## Abstract

Project Summary
Adults with type 1 diabetes (T1D) are at increased risk for cognitive impairment, accelerated brain aging, and
Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias (ADRD). Glycemic factors are important mediators of adverse
cognitive outcomes in T1D, with long-term exposure to elevated blood glucose being associated with increased
cognitive decline and ADRD. Building upon recent advances in plasma biomarker assay development and
findings of elevated CSF biomarkers for Alzheimer’s disease (AD) in middle aged adults with T1D, the current
project aims to characterize the relationship between plasma AD biomarkers, glycemic factors and cognitive
variability (a sensitive early marker of mild cognitive impairment and ADRD) in adults with T1D. We are
responding to NOT-DK-20-009 to seek an administrative supplement to 1R01DK121240-01 (Glycemic
fluctuations and cognitive status in adults with type 1 diabetes; The GluCog Study) in order to develop a
secondary research focus on ADRD. We will leverage ongoing participant recruitment for GluCog, which
includes detailed glycemic data and high frequency cognitive assessment, by newly collecting and banking
blood samples. We will utilize the NIA-AA Research Framework: b amyloid deposition (A), pathologic tau (T)
and neurodegeneration (N) to classify AD status. Specifically, in 100 adults from the GluCog study, we will
investigate whether 1) plasma ATN biomarkers are associated with increased cognitive variability, and 2)
whether this association is moderated by glycemic factors. We hypothesize that the relationship between ATN
biomarkers and cognitive variability will be greater among individuals who also have poorer glycemic control.
The long-term goal of this new research focus in ADRD is to identify potentially modifiable risk factors for
cognitive decline and ADRD in individuals with T1D.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10121738
- **Project number:** 3R01DK121240-02S1
- **Recipient organization:** MCLEAN HOSPITAL
- **Principal Investigator:** Naomi Sage Chaytor
- **Activity code:** R01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2020
- **Award amount:** $326,537
- **Award type:** 3
- **Project period:** 2019-04-01 → 2023-03-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10121738

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10121738, Glycemic Variability and Fluctuations in Cognitive Status in Adults with Type 1 Diabetes (3R01DK121240-02S1). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-29 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10121738. Licensed CC0.

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