Diabetes Mellitus Linked to Neurocognitive Impairment in Childhood Cancer Survivors

Strategic Insights -

A study published in the Cancer journal has found that diabetes mellitus (DM) is associated with neurocognitive impairment in survivors of childhood cancer. The research, conducted by a team from St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, analyzed data from 16,196 childhood cancer survivors and found that those with DM had a higher risk of neurocognitive impairment compared to those without DM. The study suggests that preventing or managing cardiovascular disease (CVD) in survivors with DM could mitigate additional neurocognitive decline.

Key Takeaways:

  • The study found that survivors with DM had an increased risk of neurocognitive impairment, with significant associations with task completion, emotion regulation, and organization.
  • The effects of cranial radiation on neurocognition were mediated by DM, indicating that DM plays a role in the relationship between radiation and neurocognitive decline.
  • The study suggests that preventing or managing CVD in survivors with DM could mitigate additional neurocognitive decline.
  • The research was supported by the American Lebanese Syrian Associated Charities (ALSAC) and involved a team of researchers from St. Jude Children's Research Hospital.
  • The study examined data from 16,196 childhood cancer survivors, with approximately 50.2% being female and a mean age of 32.9 years.

Statistics:

  • 615 survivors had diabetes mellitus (DM) out of the 16,196 total study participants.
  • Survivors with DM had a 1.5 times higher risk of impairment relative to survivors without DM for task completion (OR, 1.5; 95% CI, 1.2-1.9).
  • Survivors with DM had a 1.4 times higher risk of impairment relative to survivors without DM for emotion regulation (OR, 1.4; 95% CI, 1.1-2.0).
  • Survivors with DM had a 1.5 times higher risk of impairment relative to survivors without DM for organization (OR, 1.5; 95% CI, 1.1-2.0).
  • The study was published in the Cancer journal in 2025, Issue 131, Volume 16.

Sources:

  • Cancer. (2025, 131(16)). Diabetes Mellitus and Neurocognition: a Report From the Childhood Cancer Survivor Study.
  • Wiley. (n.d.). Wiley-Blackwell. Retrieved from
  • Onlinelibrary.wiley.com. (n.d.). Cancer. Retrieved from