# UNITED: Understanding neurocognitive outcomes in Type 1 diabetes: Modifiable risk and protective factors in diverse youth

> **NIH NIH U01** · WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY · 2024 · $269,774

## Abstract

PROJECT SUMMARY
Growing evidence suggests that individuals with Type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1D) are at risk for cognitive
dysfunction over time, with approximately 28% of middle-aged adults with T1D and 48% of older adults with T1D
meeting criteria for clinically significant cognitive impairment. Our team and others have shown early appearing
differences in brain structure and selected cognitive functions, with differing trajectories over time in children with
T1D. However, significant variability in outcomes remains unexplained, and there is debate about the
mechanisms and modifiable factors contributing to these neurocognitive deficits. Studying early cognitive,
functional, and structural effects in young patients with T1D before complications occur is a necessary step
towards informing risk factors, critical periods for prevention and intervention, and strategies to mitigate the risk
of neurocognitive complications of T1D later in life. Previous work has not been adequately powered or designed
to determine the effects of potential modifiable or protective risk factors for brain outcomes, how T1D factors
influence dynamic cognitive function in real-world settings and whether individuals with T1D from diverse
socioeconomic situations face greater risk for altered brain outcomes. We propose to address these deficiencies
by first engaging community stakeholders from diverse backgrounds to better understand families' perspectives
and needs. Their input will then guide the specific recruitment and data collection methodology that we employ
for this longitudinal study of diverse, prepubertal children with newly diagnosed T1D and their siblings without
T1D. In sum, this work will provide a definitive view of the complex risk and protective factors shaping
neurodevelopment in a diverse group of children with T1D and will help identify critical targets for intervention to
promote optimal brain and cognitive outcomes.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10975083
- **Project number:** 1U01DK140776-01
- **Recipient organization:** WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY
- **Principal Investigator:** Ana Maria Arbelaez
- **Activity code:** U01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2024
- **Award amount:** $269,774
- **Award type:** 1
- **Project period:** 2024-08-15 → 2029-06-30

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10975083

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10975083, UNITED: Understanding neurocognitive outcomes in Type 1 diabetes: Modifiable risk and protective factors in diverse youth (1U01DK140776-01). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-06-12 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10975083. Licensed CC0.

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