Type 1 diabetes, a chronic condition primarily associated with young individuals worldwide, is increasingly being diagnosed in adults as well. Approximately half of all cases of type 1 diabetes are now identified in adulthood, prompting a deeper investigation into the factors influencing its development in this demographic.
A recent research study conducted at the renowned Karolinska Institutet has shed light on the progression of type 1 diabetes in adults, with its findings published in The Lancet Diabetes & Endocrinology.
The study, carried out at the Institute of Environmental Medicine and drawing upon data from over 2.8 million individuals, aimed to compare the heritability of type 1 diabetes between adults and children. The results revealed that having a first-degree relative with the condition significantly heightens the risk of developing type 1 diabetes later in life, especially if the relative was diagnosed at a young age. Interestingly, the heritability of type 1 diabetes was found to be lower in adults compared to children, indicating a greater influence of environmental factors in the development of the disease in adults.
Yuxia Wei, a Ph.D. student at the Institute of Environmental Medicine and the study’s lead author, emphasized the significance of the findings, stating, “Our study offers fresh insights into the etiology of type 1 diabetes in adults. The reduced heritability observed in adults suggests that environmental factors may play a more substantial role in disease onset in this age group than in children.”
These findings highlight the critical need for further research to pinpoint the specific environmental factors contributing to the onset of type 1 diabetes in adults. Understanding these factors is essential for the development of targeted interventions aimed at preventing the disease, as emphasized by Sofia Carlsson, a senior lecturer at the Institute of Environmental Medicine.
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1. Source: Coherent Market Insights, Public sources, Desk research
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