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Perinatal risk factors for neurocognitive impairments in preschool children born very preterm

Eva S Potharst1,2,3, Aleid G VAN Wassenaer-Leemhuis2, Bregje A Houtzager4

  • 1Psychosocial Department, Emma's Children's Hospital Academic Medical Centre, Amsterdam.

Developmental Medicine and Child Neurology
|January 17, 2013
PubMed

Insights

Very preterm children show neurocognitive deficits across multiple functions compared to term-born peers. Bronchopulmonary dysplasia is a key risk factor for these impairments.

Area of Science:

  • Neuroscience
  • Developmental Psychology
  • Pediatrics

Background:

  • Very preterm birth (gestational age < 30 weeks or birthweight < 1000g) poses risks for neurodevelopment.
  • Neurocognitive outcomes in very preterm children require comprehensive assessment.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To compare neurocognitive functions in very preterm and term-born children.
  • To identify perinatal risk factors for neurocognitive dysfunction in this population.

Main Methods:

  • A cohort of 102 very preterm and 95 term-born children were assessed at age 5.
  • Neurocognitive functions evaluated included processing speed, attention, executive functioning, visual-motor coordination, and face/emotion recognition.
  • Standardized assessments like the Wechsler Preschool and Primary Scale of Intelligence and Amsterdam Neuropsychological Tasks were utilized.

Main Results:

  • Very preterm children exhibited poorer performance across most neurocognitive domains compared to term-born children.
  • Inhibition and sustained attention showed inconclusive results between groups.
  • Bronchopulmonary dysplasia was significantly associated with deficits in visual-motor coordination, face/emotion recognition, reaction time/attention, accuracy/attention, and working memory.

Conclusions:

  • Very preterm children are at elevated risk for broad neurocognitive impairments.
  • Bronchopulmonary dysplasia independently predicts poorer neurocognitive functioning in this cohort.
Abstract

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