Exploratory Multisite MR Spectroscopic Imaging Shows White Matter Neuroaxonal Loss Associated with Complications of Type 1 Diabetes in Children.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Type 1 diabetes affects over 200,000 children in the United States and is associated with an increased risk of cognitive dysfunction. Prior single-site, single-voxel MRS case reports and studies have identified associations between reduced NAA/Cr, a marker of neuroaxonal loss, and type 1 diabetes. However, NAA/Cr differences among children with various disease complications or across different brain tissues remain unclear. To better understand this phenomenon and the role of MRS in characterizing it, we conducted a multisite pilot study. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In 25 children, 6-14 years of age, with type 1 diabetes across 3 sites, we acquired T1WI and axial 2D MRSI along with phantom studies to calibrate scanner effects. We quantified tissue-weighted NAA/Cr in WM and deep GM and modeled them against study covariates. RESULTS: We found that MRSI differentiated WM and deep GM by NAA/Cr on the individual level. On the population level, we found significant negative associations of WM NAA/Cr with chronic hyperglycemia quantified by hemoglobin A1c (P < .005) and a history of diabetic ketoacidosis at disease onset (P < .05). We found a statistical interaction (P < .05) between A1c and ketoacidosis, suggesting that neuroaxonal loss from ketoacidosis may outweigh that from poor glucose control. These associations were not present in deep GM. CONCLUSIONS: Our pilot study suggests that MRSI differentiates GM and WM by NAA/Cr in this population, disease complications may lead to neuroaxonal loss in WM in children, and deeper investigation is warranted to further untangle how diabetic ketoacidosis and chronic hyperglycemia affect brain health and cognition in type 1 diabetes.

Coping and resilience in adolescents with type 1 diabetes.

BACKGROUND: Adolescents with type 1 diabetes (T1D) must cope with the ongoing stress of treatment management, so it is important to identify the most adaptive coping strategies. Previous studies, however, have typically measured broad categories of coping (e.g. approach/avoidance) and few used instruments specifically designed for this population. OBJECTIVE: This article aimed to use a developmentally sensitive coping measure to explore how the use of specific coping strategies impacts resilience (i.e. quality of life, competence and metabolic control) in adolescents with T1D. METHODS: Thirty adolescents with T1D between the ages of 10 and 16 and their mothers completed questionnaires on adolescents' coping strategy use, competence and quality of life. Clinical data (i.e. HbA1c) were obtained from adolescents' medical records. RESULTS: Greater use of primary control coping strategies (e.g. problem solving, emotional expression) was associated with higher competence scores, better quality of life and better metabolic control. Secondary control coping strategies (e.g. acceptance, distraction) were related to higher social competence, better quality of life and better metabolic control. Finally, the use of disengagement coping strategies (e.g. withdrawal or denial) was linked with lower competence and poorer metabolic control. CONCLUSIONS: The results of this study support the use of developmentally sensitive coping measures by researchers and clinicians to determine the most effective coping strategies for adolescents with T1D.