Diffusion tensor imaging in type 1 diabetes: decreased white matter integrity relates to cognitive functions

Abstract

To the Editor: Type 1 diabetes, particularly in the presence of microangiopathy, is associated with cognitive dysfunction, mainly observed in domains involving processing speed, suggesting white matter involvement [1]. White matter hyperintensities, a commonly used marker for white matter damage on MRI, however, do not occur more prevalently in type 1 diabetes compared with controls [2]. Therefore, we assessed white matter tract integrity using MRI-diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) and cognitive functions in type 1 diabetic patients with and without microangiopathy and in controls. We hypothesised that type 1 diabetic patients with microangiopathy would show the most pronounced reductions in white matter tract integrity compared with the other groups, and that these differences would be associated with cognitive differences.