This study explored surface brain morphometry in type 1 diabetes including focus on painful diabetic peripheral neuropathy (DPN). Brain MRI was obtained from 56 individuals with diabetes (18 without DPN, 19 with painless DPN, 19 with painful DPN) and 20 healthy controls. Cortical thickness, sulcus depth, and gyrification were analysed globally and regionally in each group and in the combined diabetes group. Associations with clinical characteristics and pain were assessed. Globally, cortical thickness was reduced in the combined diabetes group and in painful DPN compared to healthy controls. No differences in sulcus depth and gyrification were found. Several regions, including the middle frontal gyrus showed reduced cortical thickness in the combined diabetes- and painful DPN group. The postcentral gyrus exhibited reduced cortical thickness in painful DPN compared to healthy controls, and reduced sulcus depth compared to painless DPN correlating with higher pain intensity. Cortical thinning manifested across the brain cortex in diabetes, especially for painful DPN. Altered postcentral gyrus morphometry may be associated with neuropathic pain. Assessing cortical morphometry may be critical for comprehending central neuropathy and the manifestation of painful DPN in diabetes.
Keywords: Cortical thickness; Gyrification; Magnetic resonance imaging; Neuropathic pain; Sulcus depth; Type 1 diabetes.
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