The Neurocognitive Effects of Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus in Children and Young Adults With and Without Hypoglycemia.

Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus is one of the most common illnesses found in children under the age of 18 as well as in young adults. Symptoms of this disease, including those with and without severe hypoglycemia, create abnormal blood glucose levels along with abnormal insulin levels. These abnormal chemical levels have been associated with neurocognitive deficits in memory, attention, motor skills, visuospatial abilities and executive functioning. In this paper, available literature on the central nervous system changes associated with the effects of insulin-dependent diabetes on school-aged children and young adults is reviewed. Implications for learning as well as a neurobiological cause of executive function deficits are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]