Older age of childhood type 1 diabetes onset is associated with islet autoantibody positivity >30 years later: the Pittsburgh Epidemiology of Diabetes Complications Study.

The strong association between islet autoantibody positivity and older age at type 1 diabetes onset supports the hypothesis of a less aggressive, and thus more persistent, immune process in those with older age at onset. This observation suggests that there may be long-term persistence of heterogeneity in the underlying autoimmune process.