Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 5, 2026

Assessment and Evaluation of the High Risk Neonate: The NICU Network Neurobehavioral Scale
19:15

Assessment and Evaluation of the High Risk Neonate: The NICU Network Neurobehavioral Scale

Published on: August 25, 2014

Cognitive profile in young adults born preterm at very low birthweight

Gro C C Løhaugen1, Arne Gramstad, Kari Anne I Evensen

  • 1Department of Paediatrics and Rehabilitation, Sørlandet Hospital, Arendal, Norway. gro.c.lohaugen@ntnu.no

Developmental Medicine and Child Neurology
|December 24, 2010
PubMed

Insights

Very low birthweight (VLBW) individuals show lasting cognitive deficits, with over half scoring low on IQ tests. Comprehensive cognitive assessment is crucial for VLBW young adults to ensure appropriate support for academic and career success.

Area of Science:

  • Neuroscience
  • Developmental Pediatrics
  • Cognitive Psychology

Background:

  • Very low birthweight (VLBW; ≤ 1500g) can impact long-term neurodevelopment.
  • Cognitive outcomes in young adulthood for VLBW individuals require comprehensive evaluation.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To assess general cognitive ability at age 19 in individuals born with very low birthweight (VLBW) compared to term-born controls.
  • To identify specific cognitive domains affected by VLBW.

Main Methods:

  • A hospital-based follow-up study included 55 VLBW participants and 81 term-born comparison individuals.
  • Cognitive function was assessed using the Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale III (WAIS-III) to measure general cognitive ability.

Main Results:

  • Over half (53%) of VLBW participants achieved low IQ scores, significantly more than controls (OR 6.4).
  • VLBW individuals scored lower across full-scale, verbal, and performance IQ measures, and all four WAIS-III indices.
  • Arithmetic and visual-perceptual tasks were particularly challenging for the VLBW group.

Conclusions:

  • Very low birthweight has a global and persistent impact on cognitive ability into young adulthood.
  • Full-scale IQ assessment is vital for identifying learning difficulties in VLBW young adults.
  • Early identification and support are recommended to enhance academic achievement and future employment opportunities for VLBW individuals.
Abstract

More Related Videos

Modeling Encephalopathy of Prematurity Using Prenatal Hypoxia-ischemia with Intra-amniotic Lipopolysaccharide in Rats07:36

Modeling Encephalopathy of Prematurity Using Prenatal Hypoxia-ischemia with Intra-amniotic Lipopolysaccharide in Rats

Published on: November 20, 2015

Concurrent Collection of Fetal Murine Brain and Serum to Assess Effects of Maternal Diet on Nutrition and Neurodevelopment in Neurofibromatosis Type 105:44

Concurrent Collection of Fetal Murine Brain and Serum to Assess Effects of Maternal Diet on Nutrition and Neurodevelopment in Neurofibromatosis Type 1

Published on: May 17, 2024

Related Concept Videos

The Nativist Approach01:21

The Nativist Approach

The nativist approach to infant cognitive development proposes that infants are born with inherent knowledge structures that allow them to interpret the world almost immediately. This perspective contrasts with earlier developmental theories, such as those proposed by Jean Piaget, which emphasized a more gradual acquisition of cognitive abilities through interaction with the environment. One key concept in this approach is object permanence — the understanding that objects continue to exist...
Information Processing Approach01:30

Information Processing Approach

The information-processing theory of cognitive development centers on fundamental mental processes, including attention, memory, and problem-solving skills. Researchers in this field examine how cognitive abilities, such as working memory, evolve and influence children's overall development. Studies indicate that children with stronger working memory tend to excel in reading comprehension, math, and problem-solving compared to peers with less efficient memory skills. Low working memory is also...
Cognitive Development During Adulthood01:30

Cognitive Development During Adulthood

Cognitive development continues throughout adulthood, undergoing significant shifts across early, middle, and late stages. Individual transition occurs from adolescent idealism to pragmatic and adaptable thinking in early adulthood. During this period, individuals learn to integrate personal beliefs with the recognition that other perspectives are equally valid. Exposure to the complexities of modern society, diverse experiences, and higher education contribute to this adaptive thought process,...
Socioemotional Development during Infancy01:30

Socioemotional Development during Infancy

Socio-emotional development in infancy is primarily shaped by early emotional responses and social connections, with temperament playing a central role. Temperament refers to the consistent patterns in an individual's emotional and behavioral responses, observable even in infancy. By examining temperament, researchers can better understand an infant's unique ways of interacting with the world, influencing subsequent personality and socio-emotional growth.
Primary Temperament Types
Stella Chess...
Cognitive Development During Adolescence01:18

Cognitive Development During Adolescence

During adolescence, individuals experience significant cognitive development that enhances their understanding of others' emotions and thoughts, known as cognitive empathy. This period is marked by an increased ability to adapt to others' perspectives and a more nuanced understanding of others' mental states, a skill that is foundational for social problem-solving and conflict avoidance. The development of cognitive empathy relies heavily on the theory of mind — the recognition that people have...
Revisionist Views of Adolescent and Adult Cognition01:24

Revisionist Views of Adolescent and Adult Cognition

A revisionist approach to Jean Piaget's theory of cognitive development has brought new insights that challenge and reinterpret his established ideas. Piaget proposed that the formal operational stage, emerging in adolescence, represents the culmination of cognitive maturity. During this stage, individuals are said to develop abstract thinking, engage in systematic problem-solving, and show a form of egocentrism, believing others are as preoccupied with their behavior as they are themselves.