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[Long-term cognitive dysfunctions in preterm subjects with intraventricular haemorrhage]
A Narberhaus1, M D Segarra-Castells, R Pueyo-Benito
1Departamento de Psiquiatría y Psicobiología Clínica, Universitat de Barcelona, Facultat de Psicologia, 08035 Barcelona, Espana.
Insights
Neonatal intraventricular hemorrhage (IVH) in preterm infants is linked to lasting cognitive deficits in adolescents. This includes challenges in learning, memory, and visuospatial skills, impacting academic performance.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Developmental Psychology
- Pediatric Neurology
Context:
- Neonatal intraventricular hemorrhage (IVH) is a known risk factor for developmental impairment in preterm infants.
- Existing literature lacks comprehensive studies on the specific cognitive effects of neonatal IVH in adolescent populations.
- This study addresses the gap by investigating cognitive functions in preterm adolescents with a history of neonatal IVH.
Purpose:
- To comprehensively assess general and specific cognitive performance in preterm adolescents with neonatal IVH.
- To identify specific cognitive domains affected by neonatal IVH in this population.
- To compare cognitive outcomes between preterm adolescents with and without a history of neonatal IVH.
Summary:
- Preterm adolescents with neonatal IVH demonstrated significant differences in overall intelligence quotient (IQ) and specific cognitive functions compared to controls.
- Even after controlling for full-scale IQ, deficits in verbal learning and verbal memory persisted in the IVH group.
- Higher grades of IVH (III-IV) were associated with poorer outcomes in verbal learning, everyday memory, and visuoconstructive/visuospatial abilities.
Impact:
- Findings suggest that neonatal IVH can lead to persistent cognitive difficulties extending into adolescence.
- These cognitive deficits may contribute to academic challenges experienced by individuals with a history of preterm birth and IVH.
- The results highlight the need for targeted intervention programs to mitigate the long-term effects of neonatal IVH on cognitive development.
Introduction:
Intraventricular hemorrhage (IVH) in the neonatal period has been associated to developmental impairment or delay in preterm born children and adolescents. To our knowledge there is no study in literature which describes the effects of neonatal IVH in preterm subjects on different specific cognitive functions in adolescent samples. AIM. To explore general as well as specific cognitive performance in preterm adolescents with neonatal IVH, through a comprehensive neuropsychological assessment.
Subjects And Methods:
Sixteen preterm born adolescents with IVH in the newborn period and thirty matched controls were recruited for neuropsychological testing. The intelligence quotient, learning, memory, visuospatial and visuoperceptive abilities, and frontal functions were evaluated.
Results:
Significant differences were observed for full and performance intelligence quotient, as well as for several specific cognitive functions. After controlling for full intelligence quotient, and compared with preterm adolescents without IVH, differences remained significant for verbal learning and verbal memory. Subjects with IVH grades III-IV scored significantly lower than those with IVH grades I-II in verbal learning, everyday memory and visuoconstructive and visuospatial abilities.
Conclusions:
The present study suggests that long-term difficulties are evident for general cognitive performance as well as for specific cognitive abilities in preterm subjects with IVH in the newborn period. These data could explain the academic problems shown by these individuals and may suggest concrete intervention programs to minimize the effects of such deficits.
