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Introduction: Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders (FASD) are characterized by a variety of multiple cognitive and behavioral impairments, with intellectual, attentional, and executive impairments being the most commonly reported. In populations with multiple neurodevelopmental disorders, the Full Scale Intelligence Quotient (FSIQ) may not be a proper measure of intellectual abilities, rarely interpreted in FASD clinical practice because the heterogeneity of the cognitive profile is deemed too strong. We propose a quantitative characterization of this heterogeneity, of the strengths and weaknesses profile, and a differential analysis between global cognitive (FSIQ) and elementary reasoning abilities in a large retrospective monocentric FASD sample. Methods: Using clinical and cognitive data (Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children) from 107 children with FASD, we characterized subject heterogeneity (variance and scatter of scaled/composite scores), searched for strengths and weaknesses, and specified intellectual functioning in terms of FSIQ and elementary reasoning (General Abilities Index, Highest Reasoning Scaled Score), in comparison with standardization norms and a Monte-Carlo-simulated sample from normalization data. Results: Performance of children with FASD was lower on all subtests, with a significant weakness in working memory and processing speed. We found no increase in the variance and scatter of the scores, but a discordance between the assessment of global cognitive functioning (28% borderline, 23% deficient) and that of global and elementary reasoning abilities (23–9% borderline, 15–14% deficient). Conclusion: Our results question the notion of WISC profile heterogeneity in FASD and point to working memory and processing speed over-impairment, with global repercussions but most often preserved elementary reasoning abilities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The PELAGIE mother-child cohort study, conducted in western France, aims to examine the impact of prenatal exposure to chemicals on pregnancy outcomes and child health. The study followed over 3,000 pregnant women and their newborns, collecting extensive data on chemical exposures and various health outcomes. The cohort is part of a European network and welcomes collaborations. The study found associations between prenatal exposure to solvents, pesticides, and persistent organic pollutants and adverse health effects in children. The data collected is available for further research. [Extracted from the article]

Background: Low intelligence quotient (IQ) and delayed psychomotor development (DPD) are formidable complications of hydrocephalus. The aim of this study was to evaluate the academic performance and social integration of children operated on for hydrocephalus in Cameroon. Method: The authors present a cross-sectional study with retrospective data collection from January 2010 to May 2020. All children less than 10 years of age who had undergone surgery for a ventriculo-peritoneal shunt indicated for hydrocephalus with a post-operative evolution of 7 to 10 years and who were attending school were included. Academic performance was assessed using the Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children IV (WISC IV), and social integration was assessed using the Vineland II score. Results: Of the 45 children aged 7 to 10 years who attended school and were followed-up, the sex ratio was 1.25 in favor of males. 77.8% of these children had a malformation with paralysis being the most common functional sequela (29%). 73.3% of our patients had good social integration. Fifty-three percent of patients had reduced academic performance, with non-verbal performance being the most frequent (62.2%). Long-term memory was the most impaired, with 73.3% having a very low speed of information processing. Non-verbal performance was the most affected (62.2%) particularly long-term memory. Forty percent had an IQ below 70. The statistically significant determinants of social integration were age, sex, malformative etiology, and good psychomotor development, and the statistically significant determinants of educational delay were age, malformative etiology, IQ below 70, and time to care. Academic performance was reduced in more than half of our patients, but most of them had good social integration. Conclusion: Early diagnosis and management improve the chances of good psychomotor development and IQ. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The optimal timing and surgical approach for surgical revascularization in patients with moyamoya syndrome (MMS) associated with neurofibromatosis type I (NF1) remain so far elusive. We aimed to compare the long-term clinical, radiological, and cognitive effects of different revascularization procedures in a pediatric cohort of NF1-associated MMS. Methods: We reviewed the clinical, radiological, and surgical data of 26 patients with NF1-associated MMS diagnosed at our institution between 2012 and 2022, at the clinical onset and last follow-up. Results: Indirect bypasses were performed in 12/26 patients (57.1%), while combined direct and indirect procedures in 9/26 subjects (42.9%); 5 patients did not undergo surgery. Through logistic regression analysis, pathological Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children (WISC) at onset was found to be associated with symptom improvement at 1-year follow up (p = 0.006). No significant differences were found in long-term neurocognitive outcome and stroke rate in patients receiving combined or indirect bypass (p > 0.05). Conclusions: Currently, whether combined or indirect bypass should be considered the treatment of choice in pediatric patients with NF1-associated MMS remains unclear, as well as the optimal time approach. In our series, no significant differences were found in long-term neurocognitive outcome and stroke rate between patients treated with either of these two approaches. Clinical evidence supports the crucial role of early diagnosis and surgical revascularization in subjects with MMS-associated NF1, even in case of mildly symptomatic vasculopathy. This allows to achieve a good long-term outcome with improved intellectual function and prevention of stroke and seizure in these patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Maternal mental health during different stages of life can have a significant impact on a child's cognitive development. This study aimed to investigate the association between maternal CMD at two distinct stages of the offspring's life (at 3 months and 11 years) and their IQ scores at 6 and 18 years across two birth cohorts. The study utilized data from two Brazilian birth cohorts: the 1993 cohort (full sample: N = 3719, subsample: N = 436), and the 2004 Pelotas Birth Cohort (N = 3440). IQ assessments were conducted at ages 18 and 6, employing the Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale, third version (WAIS-III), and Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children, third version (WISC-III), respectively. The presence of maternal CMD at 3 months and 11 years of age was evaluated using the Brazilian version of the Self-Reporting Questionnaire (SRQ-20). After adjustment, participants whose mothers experienced CMD at 3 months had average IQ scores 1.74 (95 % CI: −2.83 to −0.67) and 2.79 (95 % CI: −5.54 to −0.04) points lower at ages 6 (2004 cohort) and 18 (1993 cohort subsample), respectively. Furthermore, in the 1993 cohort (both full and subsample), maternal CMD at 11 years was associated with lower IQ scores at age 18. Understanding the mechanisms underlying this association, emphasized by these findings, is crucial for promoting children's cognitive development, educational achievement, and overall well-being. • An association was observed between maternal common mental disorders (CMD) and the children's IQ scores. • Offspring of mothers with CMD at 3 months had lower IQ scores at ages 6 and 18. • Offspring of mothers with CMD at 11 years had lower mean IQ at 18 than those whose mothers did not have CMD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Atopic dermatitis (AD) may affect cognitive function, but studies are limited and inconsistent. The effect of AD severity on cognition remains underexplored and few previous studies have examined clinically validated or repeated measures of cognition throughout childhood. Objectives To evaluate the relationship of AD activity and severity with validated measures of general cognition in a longitudinal birth cohort. Methods We conducted cross-sectional analyses using data from the Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children (ALSPAC), a UK cohort of 14 975 individuals followed prospectively since their birth in 1991–92. AD was assessed 11 times between the age of 6 and 166 months. Mothers were asked if their child had an 'itchy, dry skin rash in the joints and creases', and AD status was time-updated accordingly as 'never', 'maybe', 'inactive', 'active/mild' or 'active/moderate–severe'. General cognition [i.e. intelligence quotient (IQ)] was measured at 18, 49, 103 and 186 months of age using the Griffiths Mental Development Scales (GMDS), Wechsler Preschool and Primary Scale of Intelligence (WPPSI), Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children (WISC) and Wechsler Abbreviated Scale of Intelligence (WASI), respectively. Multivariable linear regression was used to compare IQ with respect to nearest time-updated AD status. Secondary analyses were stratified by the presence or absence of psychiatric or learning disorders. An exploratory longitudinal analysis of IQ across all four outcome assessments was conducted using generalized estimating equations. Results No significant associations between AD status and full-scale IQ scores on the GMDS, WPPSI, WISC and WASI were observed after adjustment for sociodemographic factors, atopic comorbidities and sleep characteristics. However, at 8 years of age, WISC Performance IQ was slightly, although statistically significantly, lower among children with active/moderate–severe AD [β coefficient –2.16, 95% confidence interval (CI) –4.12 to –0.19] and Verbal IQ was slightly, but statistically significantly, higher among those with inactive AD (β coefficient 1.31, 95% CI 0.28–2.34) compared with those without AD. Analyses stratified by psychiatric or learning disorders, and exploratory longitudinal analyses of cognition revealed similar findings. Conclusions We did not find any clinically meaningful associations between AD activity and severity and general cognitive function during early childhood and adolescence. Future studies should incorporate objective measures of AD severity and investigate outcomes beyond IQ. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

OBJECTIVE To investigate the efficacy of equine-assisted intervention (EAI) in children with spastic quadriplegia. The parameters that evaluated were gross motor function, performance, balance, and spasticity, and whether the resulting improvement remained two months after the completion of the EAI. METHOD Fourteen children with spastic quadriplegia participated in the study that lasted 28 weeks. The intervention lasted 12 weeks and took place once per week for 30 minutes. Gross Motor Function Measure (GMFM), Gross Motor Performance Measure (GMPM), Gross Motor Function Classification System (GMFCS), Pediatric Balance Scale (PBS), Modified Ashworth Scale (MAS) and Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children (WISC III) were used for the evaluation of each child's physical performance and mental capacity. RESULTS The results showed statistically significant improvements in total GMFM and in all subcategories (p<0.05), also in total GMPM, and all subcategories (p<0.05), and PBS. These GMFM and PBS results remained present two months after the last session of EAI. A spasticity improvement trend was seen but without reaching statistical significance. CONCLUSIONS The results of our study suggest that EAI improves gross motor function, gross motor performance and balance in children with spastic quadriplegia, with clinical significance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Congenital heart disease (CHD) is one of the most common congenital birth defects. As surgical and interventional techniques have improved, the mortality has been greatly reduced and the focus has shifted to quality of life and long-term outcomes. The impact of CHD on development and cognition is becoming increasingly recognized. However, more research is needed to understand how children with CHD perform across various cognitive and intellectual domains. This study explored the performance of children with CHD on the newest version of the Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children compared to normative controls. Children with CHD performed more poorly than normal controls across all indices and most subtests with large effect sizes. Additionally, we explored the patterns of impairment across indices and subtests, as well as the relationships between heard disease variables and WISC-V performance. Block design, Digit Span, and Similarities were the most commonly impaired scores in children with CHD, while Symbol Search, Picture Span, Figure Weights, and Vocabulary were least likely to be impaired. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Although attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a common neurodevelopmental disorder, its aetiology remains unclear. We aimed to establish a relationship between ADHD diagnosis and serum levels of glucose, free thyroxine (FT4), and thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) in primary school aged boys. Methods: In a cross-sectional study, we enrolled 133 participants aged 6.5–12.5 years, 67 of whom met DSM-5 criteria for ADHD and 66 healthy age-matched boys. The ADHDT test (ADHDT) was used to assess ADHD symptoms and the Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children – Revised was used to exclude participants with cognitive deficits. The ADHD participants were tested using the Iowa Conners' Teacher Rating Scale. Results: The ADHD participants had lower glucose levels, higher TSH values, and significantly lower FT4 values than the control group. The multiple logistic regression analysis showed that TSH is a parameter that is 2.7% more likely to occur in the ADHD group. We found a significant correlation between the TSH level and the symptoms of hyperactivity (r = 0.318, p = 0.009) and impulsivity (r = 0.275, p = 0.024) as well as between the glucose level and the symptoms of hyperactivity (r = 0.312, p = 0.010). Conclusions: Certain ADHD symptoms may correlate with certain hormonal patterns. Our results suggest that the likelihood of suffering from ADHD was lower when FT4 levels were elevated. One biochemical parameter that was significantly and independently associated with the diagnosis of ADHD was the serum TSH level. Trial registration: On June 26, 2018, at its VI session in 2018, the Ethics Committee of the Institute for Mental Health in Belgrade, Serbia, has considered and unanimously approved the conduct of the research, under the number 1704/1. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Children with neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF1) are at considerable risk for cognitive difficulties, including visuospatial deficits and executive dysfunction. This study aimed to (1) assess the overall performance of children with NF1 on the Rey-Osterrieth Complex Figure Test (RCFT) compared to unaffected siblings and (2) examine neuropsychological predictors of RCFT performance in children with NF1. A retrospective clinical audit was performed on neuropsychological records from a multidisciplinary NF1 Clinic in Australia. We searched for children that had completed an assessment between 2000 and 2015 which included the RCFT and other neuropsychological outcomes in this study. These included the Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children, Judgment of Line Orientation (JLO), Tower of London test, Conners ADHD Scales, and the Behavioral Rating Inventory of Executive Function (BRIEF). The study population consisted of 191 children with NF1 aged 6–16 years, and 55 unaffected siblings recruited from a separate study. Results revealed that 62% of children with NF1 performed at or below the first percentile on the RCFT copy, which was significantly worse than their unaffected siblings. Visuospatial skills, parent-rated executive abilities, ADHD symptoms, and intellectual skills all predicted poorer performance on the RCFT copy, however the best fitting multiple regression model only contained the JLO, BRIEF Metacognition Index, and chronological age. The JLO emerged as the strongest predictor of RCFT performance. This study provides evidence that visuospatial deficits are a key driver of reduced RCFT performance in NF1 and that executive skills as well as a younger age are also independent predictors of RCFT performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The given text describes the Mothers and Newborns (MN) Cohort study conducted by the Columbia Center for Children's Environmental Health. The study focuses on the impact of prenatal and early-life environmental exposures on children's health outcomes, with a specific emphasis on minority populations. The cohort consists of 727 women and their children from Northern Manhattan and the south Bronx in New York City. Data collected includes exposure to environmental pollutants, social risk factors, and health outcomes such as birth outcomes, neurodevelopment, asthma, and obesity. The study aims to contribute to scientific understanding and inform policymakers about the associations between environmental toxicants and health outcomes. The text also includes a table presenting data collected in the study, which can be useful for library patrons conducting research on these specific topics. The study has found associations between prenatal exposure to pollutants and various adverse outcomes in children. Interested researchers can access the de-identified data through the CCCEH's Data Coordinating Center. [Extracted from the article]

Aims: To compare the children's sleep electroencephalogram according to their intellectual profile. Methods: Children were grouped according to their Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children (WISC) scores (17 with normal intelligence quotient [IQ, NIQ] and 24 with high IQ [HIQ]). Comparisons of spectral power between groups and its relationship with WISC scores were assessed using analyses of variance and linear regression models, adjusted for age and sex. Results: Children with HIQ had more rapid eye movement (REM) sleep, especially late at night, and more power in slow‐frequency bands during REM sleep than those with NIQ. There were also positive associations between the processing speed index and the spectral power in β bands in NREM sleep, and with the spectral power in α, σ, β, and γ bands in REM sleep, with different associations between groups. Conclusion: The enhanced power in slow bands during REM sleep in children with HIQ overlaps with that of typical REM sleep oscillations thought to be involved in emotional memory consolidation. The dissimilar relationships between spectral power and WISC scores in NIQ and HIQ groups may underlie functional differences in brain activity related to cognitive efficiency, questioning the direction of the relationship between sleep and cognitive functioning. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recent studies showed that mature brain-derived neurotrophic factor (mBDNF) and its precursor proBDNF are associated with autism spectrum disorders (ASD). Whether their levels are different between ASD and intellectual disability (ID) subjects is not clear. The aim of this study is to compare the serum mBDNF and proBDNF concentration, and mBNDF/proBDNF ratio in ASD and ID volunteers. Children and adolescents with ASD or ID between the ages of 4 and 22 were recruited in Tianjin, China. Serum mBDNF and proBDNF level were tested and Wechsler Preschool and Primary Scale of Intelligence (WPPSI), Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children (WISC), and Childhood Autism Rating Scale (CARS) evaluations were conducted. Serum mBDNF concentration and the ratio of mBDNF to proBDNF was higher in ASD subjects than that in ID subjects (P = 0.035 and P < 0.001, respectively), while serum proBDNF of ASD participants was lower compared to that of ID participants (P < 0.001). CARS score was positively correlated with serum mBDNF level (r = 0.33, P = 0.004) and m/p ratio (r = 0.39, P < 0.001), and negatively correlated with serum proBDNF level (r = −0.39, <0.001) after adjusting for age and IQ. The AUC of mBDNF, proBDNF, and m/p ratio were 0.741, 0.790, and 0.854, respectively, after adjusted for age and IQ. Serum mBDNF, proBDNF and m/p ratio were different between ASD and ID group. The three biomarkers displayed good diagnostic values for classification of ASD and ID subjects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Measurement invariance of the Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children, Fifth Edition (WISC-V) 10-primary subtest battery was analyzed across a group of children and adolescents with ADHD (n = 91) and a control group (n = 91) matched by sex, age, migration background, and parental education or type of school. First, confirmatory factor analyses (CFAs) were performed to establish the model fit for the WISC-V second-order five-factor model in each group. A sufficiently good fit of the model was found for the data in both groups. Subsequently, multigroup confirmatory factor analyses (MGCFAs) were conducted to test for measurement invariance across the ADHD and control group. Results of these analyses indicated configural and metric invariance but did not support full scalar invariance. However, after relaxing equality constraints on the Vocabulary (VC), Digit Span (DS), Coding (CD), Symbol Search (SS), and Picture Span (PS) subtest intercepts as well as on the intercepts of the first-order factors Working Memory (WM) and Processing Speed (PS), partial scalar invariance could be obtained. Furthermore, model-based reliability coefficients indicated that the WISC-V provides a more precise measurement of general intelligence (e.g., represented by the Full-Scale IQ, FSIQ) than it does for cognitive subdomains (e.g., represented by the WISC-V indexes). Group comparisons revealed that the ADHD group scored significantly lower than the control group on four primary subtests, thus achieving significantly lower scores on the corresponding primary indexes and the FSIQ. Given that measurement invariance across the ADHD and the control group could not be fully confirmed for the German WISC-V, clinical interpretations based on the WISC-V primary indexes are limited and should only be made with great caution regarding the cognitive profiles of children and adolescents with ADHD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This document provides summaries of various medical research studies related to developmental medicine and child neurology. The studies cover a range of topics, including rare movement disorders, memory impairments in children with neonatal hypoxic-ischaemic encephalopathy, corpus callosum anomalies, pediatric functional neurological disorder, MOGAD, pediatric multiple sclerosis, DHDDS/NUS1-related neurodevelopmental disorders, Moebius syndrome, vitamin B12 deficiency, Miller-Fisher syndrome, and rapid trio genome sequencing in infants with epilepsy. The studies offer valuable insights into these conditions and highlight the need for specialized services and support for affected children. Additionally, the document discusses studies on genetic disorders and epilepsy, including rapid genetic sequencing, causal genetic networks, investigational treatments for Dravet syndrome, CASK-related disorders, and the benefits and potential harms of rapid whole genome sequencing. These studies provide valuable information on the diagnosis and treatment of these conditions. Furthermore, the document covers studies on the treatment of Type 1 spinal muscular atrophy with risdiplam, the transition of children with chronic health conditions into adult health services, the natural history of ataxia-telangiectasia, the effects of intra-erythrocyte dexamethasone phosphate in patients with ataxia-telangiectasia, and precision gene therapy for aromatic L-amino acid decarboxylase deficiency. These studies offer important findings on the safety and efficacy of treatments and the challenges in transitioning care for children with [Extracted from the article]

Background: Thalassemia is a commonly occurring genetic hemoglobinopathy worldwide. Periodic and routine blood transfusions, iron chelation therapy and splenectomy procedures are all required for the treatment of thalassemia. Numerous organs and bodily systems could be impacted by thalassemia, particularly the nervous system, which could impede cognitive performance. The study aimed to assess cognitive abilities of pediatric patients diagnosed with beta thalassemia major and intermedia. Patients and methods: A total of 168 participants [54 β-thalassemic major children, 51 with β-thalassemia intermedia and 63 age-matched healthy controls from both genders (85 girls and 83 boys)] with age ranging from 8 to 16 years were participated in a cross-sectional study. Cognitive function was evaluated for all children by using the Wechsler Intelligence Scale For Children 4th edition. Results: Compared with control group, a significant decline was found in all Wechsler Intelligence Scale subtests as well as in verbal comprehension index, perceptual reasoning index, working memory index, processing speed index and full scale index scores of thalassemia major and intermedia patients (p < 0.001). When compared to children with thalassemia intermedia, the beta thalassemic major children showed a significant decrease in all Wechsler Scale subtests as well as in all its five index scores (p < 0.001). Conclusions: The study concluded that thalassemia negatively affects and impairs cognition and intellectual capacities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study examined the group and individual part score profiles of individuals with mild intellectual disability (ID) who participated in a clinical validity study supporting the Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children, Fifth Edition (WISC-V) and a comparison group without ID derived from the WISC-V norming sample. Descriptive analyses revealed that both groups exhibited flat profiles of part scores (i.e., the five WISC-V factor indexes), with mean global composites and part scores in the Very Low range for the ID group and in the Average range for the comparison group. However, few participants in either group exhibited profiles similar to their respective group profile, and many in both groups exhibited substantial profile scatter. Examination of global composites and part scores obtained by individuals with ID revealed that the WISC-V's global composites consistently identified those with ID using score thresholds of 70 to 75, but many individuals with ID obtained part scores much higher than this criterion. No meaningful differences were found between Black and White participants with ID. Implications focus on the risks associated with using part score elevation or profile scatter to defer identification of ID when all other criteria for the condition have been met. Impact Statement Because the cognitive profile of those with intellectual disability (ID) is generally low and flat, indicating a deficit in overall intellectual functioning with little variation among part scores, many presume that individuals with this disorder will exhibit the same pattern. Although most individuals with ID exhibit a low IQ consistent with the disorder, many exhibit much higher part scores, and significant part score scatter is common in individuals with ID. Failure to identify individuals with ID due to part score elevation or to significant profile scatter will likely have unintended negative consequences. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article is a letter to the editor in response to a case report about a patient with Kearns-Sayre syndrome (KSS), Dyggve-Melchior-Clausen syndrome (DMCS), and chromosome 9 inversion who underwent anesthesia with propofol. The authors of the letter express concerns about the reliability of recommending specific anesthesia management based on an individual case report and emphasize the need for further evidence of propofol's safety in patients with mitochondrial disorders. They also highlight the limitations of the report, including the lack of information about the specific variants causing KSS and DMCS, the genetic status and phenotype of the patient's parents, and the phenotype of the chromosome 9 inversion. The authors suggest that the conclusions of the report could be strengthened by addressing these limitations. [Extracted from the article]

Human cognition is underpinned by structured internal representations that encode relationships between entities in the world (cognitive maps). Clinical features of schizophrenia--from thought disorder to delusions--are proposed to reflect disorganization in such conceptual representations. Schizophrenia is also linked to abnormalities in neural processes that support cognitive map representations, including hippocampal replay and high-frequency ripple oscillations. Here, we report a computational assay of semantically guided conceptual sampling and exploit this to test a hypothesis that people with schizophrenia (PScz) exhibit abnormalities in semantically guided cognition that relate to hippocampal replay and ripples. Fifty-two participants [26 PScz (13 unmedicated) and 26 age-, gender-, and intelligence quotient (IQ)-matched nonclinical controls] completed a category- and letter-verbal fluency task, followed by a magnetoencephalography (MEG) scan involving a separate sequence-learning task. We used a pretrained word embedding model of semantic similarity, coupled to a computational model of word selection, to quantify the degree to which each participant's verbal behavior was guided by semantic similarity. Using MEG, we indexed neural replay and ripple power in a post-task rest session. Across all participants, word selection was strongly influenced by semantic similarity. The strength of this influence showed sensitivity to task demands (category > letter fluency) and predicted performance. In line with our hypothesis, the influence of semantic similarity on behavior was reduced in schizophrenia relative to controls, predicted negative psychotic symptoms, and correlated with an MEG signature of hippocampal ripple power (but not replay). The findings bridge a gap between phenomenological and neurocomputational accounts of schizophrenia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Autism spectrum disorders are more prevalent in children with congenital heart disease (CHD) than in the general population. Children with CHD without diagnosed autism are also at increased risk for neurodevelopmental and psychiatric impairments. We characterized social and behavioral outcomes in children with CHD and examined neurodevelopmental and psychiatric comorbidities. Children without diagnosed autism who underwent infant open-heart surgery were eligible. Parent-reports assessed social communication, unusual behaviors, self-regulation, anxiety, and executive function (EF). Neuropsychological tests assessing theory of mind (ToM), working memory, and verbal comprehension were administered. Outcomes were compared to normative data. Linear regressions were estimated with parent-reported scores and ToM abilities as outcomes. Predictors were anxiety symptoms, parent-reported EF, and working memory scores. Covariates were age, parental education, ADHD diagnosis, and verbal comprehension. Clinically relevant comorbidities were identified (N children scoring ≥1SD below the norm). Fifty-six children (10.8 ± 1.8 years) participated virtually. Compared to norms, children with CHD had impaired ToM, more unusual behaviors (p =.002), and less self-regulation (p =.018), but better social communication (p =.014). "Autism-like" traits were positively associated with anxiety symptoms (ß(95% CI) = 0.28(0.08–0.49), p =.008) and worse working memory (ß(95% CI) = -0.36(−0.59–0.13), p =.003). Twenty-one out of 22 children who displayed clinically relevant social and behavioral scores also showed anxiety symptoms (n = 4), impaired EF (n = 7), or both (n = 10). Children with CHD without diagnosed autism have elevated unusual behaviors, lower self-regulation, and impaired ToM. There is a high risk of co-existing anxiety and impaired EF which may increase disease burden. Targeted therapeutic interventions are needed to reduce long-term psychosocial risks in these children. Abbreviation Attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), Autism Spectrum Rating Scale (ASRS), Behavior Rating Inventory of Executive Functions for school-aged children, 2nd Edition (BRIEF-2), cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB), congenital heart disease (CHD), Empathy/Systematizing Quotient Child Version (ESQ-C), Multidimensional Anxiety Scale for Children, 2nd Edition (MASC-2), Social Responsiveness Scale (School-age form), 2nd Edition (SRS-2), theory of mind (ToM), Theory of Mind Task Battery (ToM-TB), Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children, 5th edition (WISC-V) [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: To identify subtypes of developmental coordination disorder (DCD) in children. Method: Children with DCD diagnosed through comprehensive evaluation at Robert‐Debré Children's University Hospital (Paris, France) were consecutively enrolled from February 2017 to March 2020. We performed an unsupervised hierarchical clustering based on principal component analysis using a large set of variables encompassing cognitive, motor, and visuospatial scores (Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children, Fifth Edition; Developmental Neuropsychological Assessment, Second Edition; Movement Assessment Battery for Children, Second Edition). Results: One hundred and sixty‐four children with DCD were enrolled (median age 10 years 3 months; male:female ratio 5.56:1). We identified distinct subgroups with mixed visuospatial and gestural disorders, or with pure gestural disorders that predominantly impaired either speed or precision. Associated neurodevelopmental disorders, such as attention‐deficit/hyperactivity disorder, did not influence the results of the clustering. Importantly, we identified a subgroup of children with marked visuospatial impairment with the lowest scores in almost all of the evaluated domains, and the poorest school performance. Interpretation: The classification of DCD into distinct subgroups could be indicative of prognosis and provide critical information to guide patient management, taking into account the child's neuropsychological profile. Beyond this clinical interest, our findings also provide a relevant framework with homogeneous subgroups of patients for research on the pathogenesis of DCD. What this paper adds: Unsupervised hierarchical clustering identified four subgroups of children with developmental coordination disorder.Two subgroups had combined visuospatial/gestural difficulties, and two had pure gestural disorders.Severe visuospatial impairment was associated with poor performance in most domains including school.Difficulties in the gestural‐only clusters were predominantly either gestural precision or speed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: This study aimed to investigate the pieces of evidence related to the possible side effects of neurofeedback (NFB) for individuals suffering from attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and epilepsy. In this systematic review of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) for individuals suffering from these two conditions, several databases were investigated. Data Extraction: To achieve this goal, the table of the first outcomes was to rate the symptoms of epilepsy based on the evaluation of patients. CANTAB (Cambridge Neuropsychological Test Automated Battery), Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children II (WISC II), and attention span test. Additionally, side effects were assessed by ADHD and epilepsy side effect checklists. Among the documents, 17 of them had the criteria to be included. Results: It was a randomized effect model that was used to evaluate the pooled prevalence of side effects with confidence intervals (CI) of 95%. Moreover, in Stata software (version 14), a Metaprop command was deployed. The approximate pooled prevalence of the side effects was 0.05 (95% CI: 0.03 - 0.08). To measure heterogeneity among studies, I² statistics and the Galbraith diagram were applied. I² statistics were estimated as 2.34%, and the Galbraith diagram did not indicate any heterogeneity. The univariate meta-regression (UMR) model showed despite a decreasing trend, the results were not statistically significant. Conclusions: It could be inferred from the results that preliminary evidence is that NFB is a non-invasive treatment and a more beneficial clinical method. It is proposed that to compare standard treatments, such as medication, neurological, and behavioral interventions, further RTCs are required. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To determine the frequency of genetic syndromes and childhood neurodevelopmental impairment in non‐malformed infants born at term with severely low birth weight and no evidence of placental insufficiency. Methods: This case series was constructed from the data of infants delivered at term between 2013 and 2018 with severely low birth weight, defined as birth weight more than 2.5 SD below the mean, with normal maternal and fetal Doppler (umbilical artery, fetal middle cerebral artery, cerebroplacental ratio and uterine artery) and no maternal hypertensive disorder during pregnancy or fetal structural anomaly on prenatal ultrasound examination. Clinical exome sequencing and copy number variation (CNV) analysis were performed using DNA extracted from the children's saliva. Cognitive and psychomotor development was evaluated using the Bayley Scales of Infant and Toddler Development, 3rd edition or the Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children, 5th edition tests, according to the child's age at testing. Results: Among the 36 405 infants born within the study period, 274 (0.75%) had a birth weight below –2.5 SD, of whom 98 met the inclusion criteria. Among the 63 families contacted, seven (11%) reported a postnatal diagnosis of a genetic syndrome and a further 18 consented to participate in the study. Median gestational age at delivery was 38.0 (interquartile range (IQR), 37.3–38.5) weeks and median birth weight was 2020 (IQR, 1908–2248) g. All 18 children showed a normal result on clinical exome sequencing and CNV analysis, but six (33%) obtained a low score on neurodevelopmental testing. Conclusion: Non‐malformed severely small term infants with no clinical or Doppler signs of placental insufficiency present a high rate of genetic syndromes and neurodevelopmental impairment during childhood. © 2023 The Authors. Ultrasound in Obstetrics & Gynecology published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of International Society of Ultrasound in Obstetrics and Gynecology. Linked article: There is a comment on this article by Chen and Li. Click here to view the Correspondence. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is the most frequent pediatric neurodevelopmental disorder. Studies in Mexico about health-related quality of life (QOL) and cognitive characteristics in these patients are scarce. Objectives: The objective of this study is to describe the relationship between cognitive characteristics and health-related QOL in children with ADHD in Puebla, Mexico. Method: A cross-sectional, analytical study was carried out in a second-level care hospital in Puebla, Mexico. Both genders, from 6 to 12 years old patients with ADHD were included. Those with visual/hearing disabilities and/or severe language delays were excluded. Patients who did not complete the information were eliminated. The Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children IV (WISC-IV), The Neuropsi and Brief Multidimensional Life Satisfaction Scale for Students (as health-related QOL indicator) scales were applied. Spearman test was used; p ≤ 0.05 was considered significant. Results: 104 children were recruited, 71 male (68.26%), medium age was 8.94 years old (SD = 1.83, min = 6, max = 12). Work memory and processing speed (WISC-IV), and memory and attention (Neuropsi) were the most affected domains. Health-related QOL was low at 60%. WISC-IVs intellectual quotient (r = 0.3962, p = 0.000), and Neuropsi's memory and attention (r = 0.451, p = 0.018) reported a significant moderated correlation with health-related QOL. Conclusion: Attention, memory, and processing speed were the most affected cognitive characteristics in children with attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder. Health-related QOL resulted low. Intellectual coefficient, as well as memory and attention, reported a significant moderated correlation with health-related QOL. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Children with normal hearing who present with listening difficulties (LiD) are frequently referred for assessment of auditory processing disorder (APD). Complicating diagnosis is the similarities of APD to other neurodevelopmental disorders, especially attention‐deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Due to well‐documented deficits in executive functioning (EF) in children with ADHD, we hypothesized that a possible root cause of observed listening deficits may be EF deficits, rather than auditory processing alone. For preliminary investigation into this hypothesis, the current study compared EF skills of children with LiD who were referred for APD assessment, with and without a diagnosis of ADHD. EF skills of 24 children between the ages of 7–16 were assessed utilizing the Behavioral Assessment of Dysexecutive Syndrome in Children, and the Behavior Rating Inventory of Executive Function, 2nd edition. Compelling differences were found between groups of children with LiD. Children without ADHD scored lower on measures of inhibitory control compared to children with a diagnosis of ADHD. Decreased EF skills exhibited in children with LiD, even those without a diagnosis of ADHD, support the need for transdisciplinary identification and management of children with LiD. Practitioner points: Children with listening difficulties are often referred for assessment of auditory processing disorder (APD).Regardless of attention‐deficit hyperactivity disorder diagnosis, children referred for APD assessment display executive functioning deficits.Children with reported listening difficulties may benefit from classroom intervention to address executive functioning. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study sought to verify whether the constructs measured on the WISC-V are equivalent according to sex and age group in Chilean students to substantiate intergroup comparisons. For this, the measurement invariance of two variants of the five-factor intelligence model was explored with the ten primary subtests (hierarchical and oblique) using multigroup confirmatory factor analysis. Seven hundred and forty participants between 6 and 16 years of age from the Chilean standardization sample were assessed. The results show complete invariance according to sex, but incomplete according to the age group. The implications of these findings in both the professional area of psychology and future research are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Despite being repeatedly investigated in children with typical development, research on gender differences in intellectual abilities in specific groups of children, including children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), has been scarce. In this paper, we evaluated the performance of a large group of Italian children with ADHD using the WISC-IV. We aimed at investigating the presence of gender differences using a multi-group confirmatory factor analysis approach. Results showed that the WISC is largely gender-invariant. However, some tasks present non-invariant patterns (block design and coding). Differences at the latent level also showed some differences (favoring boys) in the verbal comprehension index. Conversely, differences at the latent level were not found in the full-scale IQ or in the other main indices. These results have theoretical and practical implications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Cognitive development measured as intelligence quotient can predict socioeconomic markers in adulthood. It is therefore of interest to determine predictors of childhood intelligence quotient. Aim: To assess intelligence quotient scores based on standardised Danish age-appropriate scores and to evaluate potential predictors of intelligence quotient. Materials: At 7 years of age children in the Odense Child Cohort completed an abbreviated version of the Wechsler intelligence scale for children 5th edition consisting of four subtests (vocabulary, similarities, block design and matrix reasoning) from which the full scale intelligence quotient and verbal comprehension index were estimated. Potential predictors from pregnancy through childhood were collected from questionnaires, birth records and clinical examinations. Methods: Intelligence quotient scores were investigated through descriptive statistics and linear regression models. Results: The mean full scale intelligence quotient among 1375 children was 99.1 (95% confidence interval 98.5; 99.8) points. Higher full scale intelligence quotient scores were observed in girls 100.8 (95% confidence interval 100.0; 101.8) compared to boys 97.6 (96.7; 98.4), and in children of mothers with high and intermediate education 101.7 (100.4; 103.1) and 99.6 (98.7; 100.5), respectively, compared to low education 96.1 (94.9; 97.3). In linear regression analyses, longer maternal education and child sex (girls) remained strong predictors of intelligence quotient at age 7 years. In addition, paternal education, child head circumference and longer duration of breastfeeding were associated with higher intelligence quotient, whereas maternal overweight and obesity before pregnancy was associated with lower intelligence quotient. Conclusions: Mean intelligence quotient scores were comparable to the standardised mean intelligence quotient of 100 point of Danish peers. It is important to follow up these children to determine which predictors persist into adulthood. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Predicting impairment in preterm children is challenging. Our aim is to explore the association between MRI at term-equivalent age (TEA) and neurocognitive outcomes in late childhood and to assess whether the addition of EEG improves prognostication. Methods: This prospective observational study included forty infants with gestational age 24 + 0–30 + 6. Children were monitored with multichannel EEG for 72 h after birth. Total absolute band power for the delta band on day 2 was calculated. Brain MRI was performed at TEA and scored according to the Kidokoro scoring system. At 10–12 years of age, we evaluated neurocognitive outcomes with Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children 4th edition, Vineland adaptive behavior scales 2nd edition and Behavior Rating Inventory of Executive Function. We performed linear regression analysis to examine the association between outcomes and MRI and EEG, respectively, and multiple regression analysis to explore the combination of MRI and EEG. Results: Forty infants were included. There was a significant association between global brain abnormality score and composite outcomes of WISC and Vineland test, but not the BRIEF test. The adjusted R2 was 0.16 and 0.08, respectively. For EEG, adjusted R2 was 0.34 and 0.15, respectively. When combining MRI and EEG data, adjusted R2 changed to 0.36 for WISC and 0.16 for the Vineland test. Conclusion: There was a small association between TEA MRI and neurocognitive outcomes in late childhood. Adding EEG to the model improved the explained variance. Combining EEG and MRI data did not have any additional benefit over EEG alone. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

1) revealing diffuse leukodystrophy, basal ganglia and cerebellar atrophy, along with a thin corpus callosum, suggestive of hypomyelination with atrophy of the basal ganglia and cerebellum (H-ABC syndrome), a syndrome first described in 2002. Serial detailed phenotyping allowed recognition of childhood-onset, progressive, combined, dystonia as our patients gradually developed the typical disease milestones of dystonia, cerebellar signs and whispering dysphonia. Keywords: H-ABC syndrome; TUBB4A; TUBB4A-related disease; whispering dysphonia EN H-ABC syndrome TUBB4A TUBB4A-related disease whispering dysphonia S54 S57 4 08/28/23 20230802 NES 230802 We describe two sisters in whom careful characterization of movement disorder phenomenology and recognition of evolving biomarkers were key diagnostic factors after 30 years of follow-up. [Extracted from the article]

Aim: To test the association between perinatal inflammation exposure and Full‐Scale IQ (FSIQ) score 7 years after neonatal arterial ischaemic stroke (NAIS). Method: We conducted a cross‐sectional ancillary study nested in a multicentric longitudinal French cohort of infants born at term with NAIS between November 2003 and October 2006. Seventy‐three children were included (45 males, 28 females). The a priori defined primary outcome measure was the FSIQ score assessed with the Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children, Fourth Edition at 7 years of age. Results: Seventeen (23%) of the included children were exposed to perinatal inflammation. Exposure to perinatal inflammation was independently associated with an increase of FSIQ score (coefficient 13.4, 95% confidence interval 1.3–25.4; p = 0.03). Children exposed to perinatal inflammation had a higher median cerebral volume, a lower median lesion volume, and less extensive lesion distributions compared to non‐exposed children. Interpretation: We propose the existence of two NAIS categories: arteritis‐associated NAIS in children exposed to perinatal inflammation and embolism‐associated NAIS in children non‐exposed to perinatal inflammation. Identifying these two NAIS categories would open the possibility for specific curative strategies: anti‐inflammatory strategy in arteritis‐associated NAIS and recanalization strategy in embolism‐associated NAIS. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mathematics is the subject in which many school-age children reveal difficulties. The literature has shown that fine motor skills, namely fine motor coordination and visuomotor integration, have been more robustly associated with mathematical performance. Studies have shown the importance that instruments have to evaluate these skills, however, the characteristics of these instruments do not fit the reality of kindergartens, they are usually time consuming and expensive and are usually administered by specialists. Thus, the main objective of this study was to identify, select, adapt and validate motor tests to evaluate fine motor skills associated with mathematical skills to allow the kindergarten teachers to apply them simultaneously to the class, with few material resources, in a short period of time and without the need for a lot of training to apply, score and classify. For this purpose, firstly, it was necessary to understand the main difficulties highlighted by kindergarten teachers regarding the use of instruments to evaluate fine motor skills and, thus, elaborate criteria to identify and select the tests that best fit the reality of kindergartens. The test identified, selected and adapted to evaluate fine motor coordination was threading beads from the Movement Evaluation Battery for Children, 2nd Edition. The main adaptation of the test was related to time, that is, instead of counting the time it takes the child to string the total number of cubes on the string, we counted the number of cubes the child strung on the string in a pre-defined time. To evaluate visual–motor integration, the test identified, selected and adapted was the Visual–Motor Integration (6th Edition) test. The main adaptation was related to material resources, that is, it will be possible to apply the test using only one sheet per child instead of the seven suggested by the original test. After the preliminary adaptation of the tests, their validation was performed by means of the degree of reliability (test-retest) and predictive validity. The results indicated that the adapted tests presented an excellent degree of reliability (>0.9) and could therefore be used to administer them simultaneously to the class group. The adapted Visual–Motor Integration test seems to be the most suitable one to be used by kindergarten teachers, in a classroom context, to simultaneously evaluate students' fine motor skills and associate their results with mathematical skills. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: Animal studies indicate a key role for vitamin D in brain development and function, but observational studies in humans only suggests a borderline positive association between prenatal vitamin D exposure and cognitive development in the offspring. Knowledge gaps include insights in exposure time window and differences by sex for the association. We aimed to investigate the association between blood concentrations of serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D measured at four different time points and intelligence quotient score at the age of 7 years, including analyses spilt by child sex. Methods: In Odense child cohort, we included 1404 mother–child pairs with serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D data from early pregnancy to age 7 years. Full-scale intelligence quotient was assessed with Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children – fifth edition. Associations were adjusted for maternal education, pre-pregnancy body mass index, gestational age, sex and head circumference. Subanalyses stratified by sex were performed. Results: The median (interquartile range) serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D in cord was 45.88 (31.15–61.08) nmol/L; early pregnancy, 66.45 (51.29–78.74); late pregnancy, 79.13 (59.69–97.31); 7 years, 66.29 (53.45–80.23) nmol/L. The mean (standard deviation) full-scale intelligence quotient was 99.44 (11.98). In adjusted analyses, cord serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D < 50 nmol/L was associated with 2.2 points lower full-scale intelligence quotient compared to the reference (50–75 nmol/L) in boys, β = –2.2; 95% confidence interval = [−4.3, –0.1], p = 0.039. The same association with full-scale intelligence quotient was found for early pregnancy serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D, β = –2.5 [−4.6, –0.3], p = 0.025, primarily driven by an association in boys, β = –4.0 [−7.2, –0.8], p = 0.015; and for serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D at 7 years in girls, β = –3.0 [−6.0, –0.1], p = 0.042. Conclusion: In this cohort, serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D < 50 nmol/L in both early gestation and cord blood in boys and current serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D < 50 nmol/L in girls were independent risk factors for two to four points lower full-scale intelligence quotient at the age of 7 years. Vulnerability to hypovitaminosis D, especially in pregnancy, may relate to child sex. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Central precocious puberty (CPP) patients are at significantly higher risk of emotional, mental, and behavioral disorders than those normal pubertal population. However, to date, the definite mechanism of how puberty hormones affect patients with CPP remains unclear. This regional homogeneity (ReHo) study aimed to explore the impact of premature hypothalamus-pituitary-gonadal (HPG) axis activation on brain function alteration in girls with CPP, meanwhile, to explore the relationship between gonadotropin and gonadal hormones levels, abnormal brain activity and cognitive function. In this prospective study, a total of 85 girls who were suspected of having CPP were enrolled from the Child Healthcare Department of the Second Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University Hospital from June 2018 to May 2021, including 41 CPP girls and 44 non-CPP girls. All participants collected the 0, 30, 60 min blood luteinizing hormone (LH), follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), 0, 30 min estradiol (E2) and baseline cortisol (COR) and prolactin (PRL) concentrations after gonadotrophin-releasing hormone (GnRH) stimulating test. Resting-state magnetic resonance imaging (rs-MRI) scans were performed for all participants at 2 weeks before the GnRH stimulating test, voxel-wise ReHo was calculated in the standard frequency band (0.01–0.10 Hz), and in slow-4 (0.027–0.073 Hz) and slow-5 (0.01–0.027 Hz). Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children Fourth Edition (WISC-IV) was also collected. Independent-sample t- test or Mann-Whitney U test was used to compare the differences between two groups. The correlation analysis among abnormal brain regions, serum hormone levels and WISC-IV scores were performed by Spearman or partial correlation analysis. Compared to the non-CPP group, the CPP group showed higher regional homogeneity (ReHo) values in the left inferior temporal gyrus (ITG.L), as well as lower ReHo values in left superior temporal gyrus (STG.L), left superior occipital gyrus (SOG.L) and the right middle gyrus (MTG.R) in slow4.in slow5 frequency band, CPP group demonstrated decreased ReHo values in bilateral orbital part of superior frontal gyrus and medial superior frontal gyrus. Due to the cross-section design of this study, further research is needed to explore the relationships between age, premature activation HPG axis and brain function changes. Our findings demonstrate that premature HPG axis activation and alterations in puberty hormones, may lead to changes in brain activity and cognitive function. This rs-fMRI study may enhance our understanding of the neuroendocrine mechanisms of mood, behavior, and cognitive function alterations in patients with CPP. • Our study is the first to explore HPG and cerebral function link in CPP girls using sub-frequency ReHo method. • Compare to controls, in slow4 and slow5 band, the CPP girls showed abnormal cerebral activities by ReHo method. • A positive correlation between basal follicle-stimulating hormone level and verbal comprehension index in CPP group. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Wechsler scales are among the most widely used tests in cognitive and neuropsychological assessments. When assessing children aged 6:0–7:7 years the clinician can choose between Wechsler Preschool and Primary Scale of Intelligence – Fourth Edition (WPPSI-IV) and Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children – Fifth Edition (WISC-V). Information about how the tests function and differ in this overlapping age range is limited. Using a between-subjects design, the present study compared the cognitive profiles of typically developing Swedish-speaking children in Finland in this overlapping age range (6:1 – 7:2 years), assessed with the Swedish versions of either WPPSI-IV (n = 38) or WISC-V (n = 24). Profile analyses and one-way ANCOVA were performed to investigate differences in the comparable subtests, indexes and Full Scale IQ. On the subtest level, children assessed with WISC-V had significantly lower scores on the subtests Vocabulary, Matrix Reasoning, and Bug/Symbol Search compared to children assessed with WPPSI-IV. On the index level, scores for the Verbal Comprehension Index and the Fluid Reasoning Index were significantly lower for children assessed with WISC-V. The Full Scale IQ was significantly lower on WISC-V. Taken together, the findings indicate that WPPSI-IV and WISC-V produce partly different cognitive profiles. These differences are important to recognize when choosing which test to use and when interpreting the results of clinical assessments of children in this age group. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: We aimed to investigate the neurodevelopmental outcomes and school success of 11- to 12-year-old children born as moderate/late preterm infants and identify risk factors affecting prognosis. Patients and Methods: Moderate/late preterm infants followed in the neonatal intensive care unit between January 2004 and December 2004 were included, and the children were examined again in our pediatrics outpatient clinic in 2016. Perinatal and neonatal histories were obtained from the hospital database. Physical growth characteristics were interpreted. Neurodevelopment was evaluated using the revised Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children (WISC-R). The Pediatric Symptom Checklist (PSC) was also applied. The effect of socioeconomic level on neurodevelopmental outcome was examined. School performance was evaluated using report card grades. Results: Forty-one children with a mean age of 11.6 years were evaluated. Risk factors associated with physical growth outcomes were maternal age of >35 years, fetal distress, and patent ductus arteriosus. Sepsis was associated with a decrease in verbal intelligence while periventricular leukomalacia had negative effects on both verbal and performance intelligence. Socioeconomic level showed a medium correlation with performance and full-scale intelligence. The intelligence quotients of the children with positive PSC scores were significantly lower. Conclusion: Moderate/late preterm infants lag both neurologically and developmentally due to incomplete maturation of the brain and natal problems. Similar to early preterm infants, these children should be monitored for extended periods, and family support, rehabilitation, and special education needs should be met. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: This study aimed to investigate the differences on resting‐state brain networks between the interictal epileptiform discharge (IED) group with self‐limited epilepsy with centrotemporal spikes (SeLECTS), the non‐IED group with SeLECTS, and the healthy control (HC) group. Methods: Patients were divided into the IED and non‐IED group according to the presence or absence of IED during magnetoencephalography (MEG). We used Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children, fourth edition (WISC‐IV) to assess cognition in 30 children with SeLECTS and 15 HCs. Functional networks were constructed at the whole‐brain level and graph theory (GT) analysis was used to quantify the topology of the brain network. Results: The IED group had the lowest cognitive function scores, followed by the non‐IED group and then HCs. Our MEG results showed that the IED group had more dispersed functional connectivity (FC) in the 4–8 Hz frequency band, and more brain regions were involved compared to the other two groups. Furthermore, the IED group had fewer FC between the anterior and posterior brain regions in the 12–30 Hz frequency band. Both the IED group and the non‐IED group had fewer FC between the anterior and posterior brain regions in the 80–250 Hz frequency band compared to the HC group. GT analysis showed that the IED group had a higher clustering coefficient compared to the HC group and a higher degree compared to the non‐IED group in the 80–250 Hz frequency band. The non‐IED group had a lower path length in the 30–80 Hz frequency band compared to the HC group. Conclusions: The study data obtained in this study suggested that intrinsic neural activity was frequency‐dependent and that FC networks of the IED group and the non‐IED group underwent changes in different frequency bands. These network‐related changes may contribute to cognitive dysfunction in children with SeLECTS. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Due to the lack of tools that can be easily used by practitioners, there is a need to develop acceptable embedded ways to assess children's fine motor skill development within early childhood education and care settings. This study examined the validity and reliability of a brief and ecologically valid fine motor assessment tool for preschool-aged children; the fine motor growth assessment (i.e., FINGA). Children's fine motor performance on FINGA was compared with widely-used and validated performance-based (Peabody Developmental Motor Scales 2nd edition) and informant-based (Ages and Stages Questionnaire 3rd edition) fine motor assessments. Ninety-one children [mean age (y) ± SD = 4.50y ± 0.68] were assessed within seven early childhood education and care services in New South Wales, Australia. Exploratory factor analyses (EFA) and linear regression analyses showed that FINGA had good internal consistency (EFA of 73%) and age sensitivity (Bstd = 0.69, p < 0.001), and bivariate correlation analyses demonstrated good concurrent validity (rs from 0.69 to 0.84, ps < 0.001) against the two comparison assessments. Because of its brevity and ecological validity, the FINGA tool should be further examined as a routine fine motor skills assessment administered within the context of universal early childhood education and care service provision. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: To evaluate mammillary body abnormalities in school‐age children without cerebral palsy treated with therapeutic hypothermia for neonatal hypoxic–ischaemic encephalopathy (cases) and matched controls, and associations with cognitive outcome, hippocampal volume, and diffusivity in the mammillothalamic tract (MTT) and fornix. Method: Mammillary body abnormalities were scored from T1‐weighted magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in 32 cases and 35 controls (median age [interquartile range] 7 years [6 years 7 months–7 years 7 months] and 7 years 4 months [6 years 7 months–7 years 7 months] respectively). Cognition was assessed using the Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children, Fourth Edition. Hippocampal volume (normalized by total brain volume) was measured from T1‐weighted MRI. Radial diffusivity and fractional anisotropy were measured in the MTT and fornix, from diffusion‐weighted MRI using deterministic tractography. Results: More cases than controls had mammillary body abnormalities (34% vs 0%; p < 0.001). Cases with abnormal mammillary bodies had lower processing speed (p = 0.016) and full‐scale IQ (p = 0.028) than cases without abnormal mammillary bodies, and lower scores than controls in all cognitive domains (p < 0.05). Cases with abnormal mammillary bodies had smaller hippocampi (left p = 0.016; right p = 0.004) and increased radial diffusivity in the right MTT (p = 0.004) compared with cases without mammillary body abnormalities. Interpretation: Cooled children with mammillary body abnormalities at school‐age have reduced cognitive scores, smaller hippocampi, and altered MTT microstructure compared with those without mammillary body abnormalities, and matched controls. What this paper adds: Cooled children are at higher risk of mammillary body abnormalities than controls.Abnormal mammillary bodies are associated with reduced cognitive scores and smaller hippocampi.Abnormal mammillary bodies are associated with altered mammillothalamic tract diffusivity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: The purpose of the study was to study the association between retinal parameters and motor and cognitive outcomes in children born very preterm. Methods: This study is part of a prospective cohort study of very preterm infants (birth weight ≤ 1500 grams/gestational age < 32 weeks). At 11 years of age, the ophthalmological assessment included a retinal optical coherence tomography (OCT) examination of the peripapillary retinal nerve fibre layer (PRNFL) and the macular ganglion cell layer (GCL). The motor performance was assessed with the Movement Assessment Battery for Children—Second Edition (Movement ABC‐2), and the cognitive outcome with the Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children—Fourth Edition (WISC‐IV). Results: A total of 141 children were included. The mean (SD) average PRNFL was 95 μm (10.2 μm). The mean (SD) macular GCL volume was 0.34 mm3 (0.03 mm3). Higher PRNFL thickness associated with higher percentiles for total scores in the motor assessment (b = 0.5, 95% CI 0.1–0.8, p = 0.01) and higher macular GCL volume with higher scores in the cognitive assessment (b = 1.4, 95% CI 0.5–2.3, p = 0.002), also when adjusted for gender, birth weight z‐score (birth weight in relation to gestational age) and major brain pathology at term. Conclusion: The associations between higher average PRNFL thickness and better motor performance as well as higher macular GCL volume and better cognitive performance refer to more generalized changes in the brain of 11‐year‐old children born very preterm. Retinal OCT examinations might provide a deeper insight than mere eyesight in long‐term neurodevelopmental follow‐up of children born very preterm. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Since 2012, although mutations in the I ANK2 i gene have been identified as a functional neurospecific cause of autism spectrum disorder (ASD),[1] few clinical descriptions have been given in the literature, as these cases are drowned in reports on whole exome sequencing (WES) of large cohorts. Further phenotypic descriptions of patients with I ANK2 i mutation are required to investigate whether there is a genotype/phenotype correlation and certain specific clinical features. Interestingly, disease-causing mutations in the ANK2 gene have been identified in patients with autism since 2012, though with no full clinical description. [Extracted from the article]

We carried out an exploratory study of the association between exposure to violence, intelligence, and executive functions in Brazilian preadolescents. The study included 56 participants (31 males) aged 8 to 14 years old (mean = 11.3, SD = 1.0). We administered neuropsychological tests to evaluate executive functions and the Juvenile Victimization Questionnaire (JVQ) to evaluate exposure to violence. We used the following neuropsychological instruments: Wechsler Abbreviated Scale of Intelligence (WASI), Stroop Color-Word Interference task, digits subtest of the Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children, and an N-back task. We generated a composite score from neuropsychological test scores and investigated the association of that score, and individual test scores, with exposure to violence and socioeconomic status (SES). Results suggest, first, that exposure to violence is associated with a 0.5-point lower intelligence quotient score for every reported victimization event in the Juvenile Victimization Questionnaire. Results also show that the digits backward subtest scores showed a significant negative correlation with exposure to violence (JVQ; rho = −0.29, p < 0.05); both analyses were adjusted for the level of schooling of parents or guardians, which was also found to be significantly associated with lower intelligence quotient scores. We discuss results in the light of the existing literature on the effects of exposure to violence on adolescent development, and the amounting evidence that suggests an association of exposure to violence, and of victimization, with tests that evaluate constructs of executive functions. The study struggled with low compliance from participants, and we underscore the challenges of carrying out empirical studies aimed at better understanding the development of underrepresented youths, such as those from Central and Latin America. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Severe iodine deficiency adversely affects neurodevelopment; however, evidence regarding the association of non-severe deficiency and child cognitive functioning is inconclusive. Methods This prospective mother-child cohort study was nested in a population-based nutritional supplementation trial in Bangladesh (Maternal and Infant Nutrition Interventions in Matlab [MINIMat]). Participants with data on cognitive abilities at 5 and 10 years of age (n  =   1530) and at least one measurement of urinary iodine concentration (UIC) (gestational week 8, 5, and 10 years) were selected. Cognitive abilities were assessed using the Wechsler Preschool and Primary Scale of Intelligence (WPPSI-III) and Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children (WISC-IV). UICs were measured with inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry and thereafter adjusted for specific gravity. Results Median UICs in our population: (282 μg/L [pregnancy]; 406 μg/L [5 years]; 294 μg/L [10 years]) indicated that iodine intake corresponded to above 'adequate' or even 'excessive', according to the WHO classification. Maternal 'UIC <150 μg/L' was associated with lower full-scale and verbal scores at 5 and 10 years, although the associations were weakened in the fully adjusted models. A tendency of decreased verbal scores was also observed for maternal 'UIC ≥500 μg/L' but not for the corresponding child iodine category (≥300 μg/L). Child 'UIC <100 μg/L' was associated with lower processing speed (B=-3.1, 95% CI [-6.2, -0.1]; P -value = 0.041) compared with the reference group (100 μg/L≤ UIC <300 μg/L). Conclusions Current findings add to the growing evidence of a causal association of early-life iodine intake with cognitive development, indicating that low iodine intake during childhood is associated with reduced processing speed and non-optimal gestational iodine intake is weakly associated with slightly poorer verbal development outcomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims and objectives/purpose/research questions: The bilingual advantage in executive function (EF) has recently been explored with functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS) technology, but the results are still controversial because of the limited statistical analysis. This study aims to fill the gap by replicating the existing studies and advancing the statistical analysis. Design/methodology/approach: Altogether, 35 preschoolers (aged between 4.1 and 6.3 years, Mage = 5.0 years, SD = 0.59) completed the Peabody Picture Vocabulary Test—Fourth Edition (PPVT-4) and the Dimensional Change Card Sort (DCCS) task. Their behavioral performance and the associated brain activities during the three sessions of the DCCS task were measured using fNIRS. In addition, they were classified into either Bilingual or Monolingual groups based on the PPVT scores. Data and analysis: t -tests and quadratic regression analyses were conducted to examine whether children's performance in the DCCS was related to their bilingualism and whether the changes in oxygenated hemoglobin (HbO) in the prefrontal regions were related to their bilingualism and performance in the DCCS. Findings/conclusions: The behavioral data analysis indicated no significant differences between the monolinguals and bilinguals. However, the fNIRS evidence indicated that (1) the monolinguals had to recruit 15 channels to complete the cognitive shifting of DCCS tasks, whereas the bilinguals only employed 11; (2) the bilinguals had significantly more brain activation with fewer channels in BA 44 than the monolinguals, demonstrating more effective executive function. Originality: This study has advanced the statistical analysis of the HbO changes for the cognitive shifting in the DCCS by confirming the nonlinear U-shape by quadratic regression a better fit than the linear V-shape by GLM. Significance/implications: This finding implies that early bilingual experience has equipped young children with more effective executive function. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Multiple risk factors in Beta-thalassemia major (ßTM) children contribute to the impairment of their neurocognitive function. Multiple studies used different intelligence quotient (IQ) scores to assess the neurocognitive function in thalassaemic children, however, results were variable. Objective: This study aimed to assess the cognitive functions of thalassemic children and to compare them to a wellmatched group of healthy controls using the Fourth Edition of the Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children (WISC-IV). Subjects and Methods: A cross-sectional study recruited two groups; Group I included 50 children diagnosed with ßTM on regular blood transfusions. Group II included 50 healthy control children with no underlying chronic illness, matching the patients' age, sex, education, parent's education, school performance, and socioeconomic level. A detailed history was taken, and clinical examination was performed; also, laboratory investigations including full blood picture and serum ferritin were done. Neurocognitive functions were assessed using WISC-IV. Results: ßTM children had significantly lower IQ scores on cognitive function assessment than healthy children, including the mean of the Full-Scale Intelligence Quotient, as well as the mean scores of the Verbal Comprehension Index, the Processing Speed Index, the Perceptual Reasoning Index, and the Working Memory Index (P<0.01). There was no correlation between IQ scores and the age at the onset of disease, transfusion frequency per year, serum ferritin, onset and duration of chelation, type of chelation, parents' education, and socioeconomic status. However, IQ scores were positively correlated with pretransfusion Hb, school performance, education, and anthropometric measurements. Conclusion: We concluded that ßTM children have significantly lower IQ scores than healthy children, and this requires attention for neuropsychological assessment of thalassemic children early in life to provide adequate support. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD) is a neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by cognitive and adaptive impairment. FASF can be presented or not with sentinel facial features (SFF). The presence of such SFF have been positively correlated with cognitive impairment in children with FASD. Objectives: The current study explores difference in global intellectual functioning and how cognition affects adaptive behavior in children with and without SFF. Methods: A total of 88 children and adolescents (55 males, 33 females) with confirmed FASD diagnosis were included in the study, of which 16 had sentinel facial features. Childrens' neuropsychological functioning was assessed using the Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children (WISC-V) and The Behavioral Assessment of the Dysexecutive Syndromes for Children (BADS-C). Adaptive behavior was explored through the Adaptive Behavior Assessment System (ABAS-3). Results: Children with SFF performed more poorly in tasks assessing processing speed (t = 2.495, t =.020) and executive functioning (t = 4.147, t =.001). Those children also had lower IQ scores than children without SFF (t = 2.658, t =.016). BADS-C overall scaled score was related to three of the four domains of the ABAS scale (conceptual, social, and practical) but only in the group of FASD children without SFF (B = 0.547, t =.020; B = 0.544,t =.049; B = 0.431,t =.040, respectively). Conclusions: The present study founds poorer cognitive outcomes in children who have FASD with sentinel facial features. In children without SFF, stronger executive functioning is also related to significantly stronger reported conceptual, social, and practical adaptive behaviors. Better understanding of cognitive and adaptive functioning in children with FASD may help in the design of tailored evidenced-based interventions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Neonatal imaging studies report corpus callosum abnormalities after neonatal hypoxic–ischaemic encephalopathy (HIE), but corpus callosum development and relation to cognition in childhood are unknown. Using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), we examined the relationship between corpus callosum size, microstructure and cognitive and motor outcomes at early school‐age children cooled for HIE (cases) without cerebral palsy compared to healthy, matched controls. A secondary aim was to examine the impact of HIE‐related neonatal brain injury on corpus callosum size, microstructure and growth. Methods: Participants aged 6–8 years underwent MRI, the Movement Assessment Battery for Children Second Edition and Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children Fourth Edition. Cross‐sectional area, volume, fractional anisotropy and radial diffusivity of the corpus callosum and five subdivisions were measured. Multivariable regression was used to assess associations between total motor score, full‐scale IQ (FSIQ) and imaging metrics. Results: Adjusting for age, sex and intracranial volume, cases (N = 40) compared to controls (N = 39) demonstrated reduced whole corpus callosum area (β = −26.9, 95% confidence interval [CI] = −53.17, −0.58), volume (β = −138.5, 95% CI = −267.54, −9.56), fractional anisotropy and increased radial diffusivity (P < 0.05) within segments II–V. In cases, segment V area (β = 0.18, 95% CI = 0.004, 0.35), volume (β = 0.04, 95% CI = 0.001, 0.079), whole corpus callosum fractional anisotropy (β = 13.8 95% CI = 0.6, 27.1) and radial diffusivity (β = −11.3, 95% CI = −22.22, −0.42) were associated with FSIQ. Growth of the corpus callosum was restricted in cases with a FSIQ ≤85, and volume was reduced in cases with mild neonatal multifocal injury compared to white matter injury alone. Interpretation: Following neonatal HIE, morphological and microstructural changes in the corpus callosum are associated with reduced cognitive function at early school age. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children (WISC) is widely used as a reference material to determine appropriate education in line with cognitive characteristics of autism spectrum disorder (ASD). The ASD profile’s variance from norms is a well-known fact. This study aims to evaluate the cognitive characteristics of ASD through 191 cases that took WISC-IV twice. First, we evaluated the initial and subsequent test profiles of four main indexes; Verbal Comprehension Index (VCI), Perceptual Reasoning Index (PRI), Working Memory Index (WMI), Processing Speed Index (PSI). Second, we compared the four indexes as well as corresponding subtests of initial and subsequent tests. The 191 cases were divided into subgroups by comorbidities with/without Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), Developmental Coordination Disorder (DCD)as well as age, sex and IQ for comparative investigation with the control of 32 ADHD individuals without ASD. The resulting characteristics were low Cognitive Proficiency Index (CPI= WMI+PSI; said to reflect one’s abilities to fluently process information, listen well and retain what others are saying, and skillfully execute that)as well as high General Ability Index (GAI=VCI+PRI; said to reflect the core part of intelligence such as abilities to think and apply). PSI was the lowest among the four indexes. In the second testing, GAI has significantly increased, widening the gap with CPI. These findings were common across all the subgroups. The ADHD without ASD group demonstrated the same GAI>CPI characteristics. However, the lowest among the four indexes was WMI and the second testing showed no significant increase in GAI. ASD was characterized by GAI>CPI as well as increase in GAI when retested. Future tasks would be to verify these findings against ASD’s existing cognitive impairment theories, namely those related to executive functions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]