A Review of Cognitive Dysfunctions in Children and Adolescents with Type 1 Diabetes

Type 1diabetes (T1D) is one of the most common chronic diseases of childhood which, apart from physical health issues, can lead to decrements in cognition as well. This article aimed to provide a thorough review of cognitive deficits in children and adolescents with T1D. To this end, a systematic literature search was performed in the scientific databases including: Google Scholar, APA PSycNET, Web of Science, and Science Direct. Articles published in English up until 2020 were retrieved with the following keywords:cognitive problems/deficits, type 1 diabetes, adolescents, children, neuropsychological profile and pediatric. Results from studies suggested that children and adolescents with T1D showed deficits in attention, memory, spatial cognition, executive functions, and speed of information processing. Considering that cognitive difficulties could lead to reduced quality of life and less adherence to self-care activities, it seems necessary for therapists to pay careful attention to cognitive problems in T1D.