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Motor and cognitive outcomes in nondisabled low-birth-weight adolescents: early determinants

Agnes H Whitaker1, Judith F Feldman, John M Lorenz

  • 1Division of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Columbia University and New York State Psychiatric Institute, New York, NY 10032, USA. witakea@childpsych.columbia.edu

Archives of Pediatrics & Adolescent Medicine
|October 5, 2006
PubMed

Insights

Low-birth-weight (LBW) adolescents show more motor issues and lower IQ scores. Prenatal, perinatal, and neonatal factors impact long-term motor and cognitive development in these children.

Area of Science:

  • Developmental Pediatrics
  • Neonatal Outcomes
  • Adolescent Health

Background:

  • Low-birth-weight (LBW) is associated with potential long-term neurodevelopmental challenges.
  • Understanding the specific risk factors influencing outcomes in nondisabled LBW individuals is crucial for targeted interventions.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To characterize motor and cognitive outcomes in adolescents born with low birth weight (LBW) but without severe disabilities.
  • To identify specific prenatal, perinatal, and neonatal risk factors associated with these outcomes.

Main Methods:

  • Prospective epidemiological study of a regional LBW cohort.
  • Assessment of 474 nondisabled LBW adolescents at a mean age of 16 years using motor and cognitive tests.
  • Analysis of birth characteristics, neonatal ultrasound findings, and medical complications as risk factors.

Main Results:

  • Nondisabled LBW adolescents exhibited more motor problems than the general population.
  • IQ scores, while within the normal range, were significantly lower than population norms.
  • Male sex, white matter injury, and ventilation duration predicted motor problems; social disadvantage, fetal growth ratio, and white matter injury predicted lower IQ.

Conclusions:

  • Prenatal, perinatal, and neonatal factors significantly influence motor and cognitive performance in nondisabled LBW adolescents.
  • These effects persist into adolescence, even after accounting for social risk.
  • Improvements in maternal-fetal and neonatal care can positively impact long-term outcomes for LBW survivors.
Abstract

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