VERBAL INTELLECTUAL AND VERBAL MEMORY PERFORMANCE OF YOUTHS WITH CHILDHOOD-ONSET INSULIN-DEPENDENT DIABETES-MELLITUS

Tested the hypothesis that memory dysfunction mediated the decline in verbal intellectual performance (as measured by the WISC-R Vocabulary test) that we detected previously in a prospective study of children w ho developed IDDM between the ages of 8 to 13 years. Three tests of ve rbal learning and memory were administered to 5 7 diabetic youths at e nd-of-study who had been followed for 8 years, on average. Memory perf ormance at end-of-study was predicted only by Vocabulary test score at study entry. IDDM duration, long-term metabolic control, depression/a nxiety, demographic variables, or blood glucose level at the time of a ssessment were not associated with memory test scores. Stepwise multip le regression revealed that level of performance on a test of short-te rm or working memory was associated with magnitude of decline in verba l intellectual performance over time, providing partial support for ou r hypothesis.