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Executive functions in very-low-birth-weight young adults: a comparison between self-report and neuropsychological
Anne Elisabeth Sølsnes1, Jon Skranes1, Ann-Mari Brubakk1
11Department of Laboratory Medicine,Children's and Women's Health,Norwegian University of Science and Technology,Trondheim,Norway.
Insights
Very-low-birth-weight (VLBW) young adults show no increased self-reported attention or executive function issues compared to peers. However, objective neuropsychological tests reveal deficits in VLBW individuals, indicating a discrepancy between self-perception and performance.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Developmental Psychology
- Cognitive Psychology
Background:
- Executive functions are crucial for goal-directed behavior and cognitive control.
- Children born very-low-birth-weight (VLBW) often exhibit attention and executive function challenges compared to term-born peers.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate self-reported and objectively measured attention/executive function in VLBW young adults versus controls.
- To explore the relationship between self-reported issues, IQ, and neuropsychological test performance in VLBW individuals.
Main Methods:
- Forty-two VLBW and 63 term-born young adults (age 19) completed the BRIEF-A self-report for everyday executive functions.
- IQ was assessed using the Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale III.
- Attention/executive function were evaluated using Delis-Kaplan executive function subtests.
Main Results:
- No significant differences were found in self-reported executive function problems (BRIEF-A) between VLBW and control groups.
- VLBW young adults scored lower on 8 out of 18 neuropsychological subtests assessing attention and executive function (p<.01).
- Correlations between self-reported issues and specific neuropsychological tests (Stroop, TMT) were observed in the VLBW group.
Conclusions:
- VLBW young adults do not perceive more daily life attention/executive function problems than controls.
- Despite similar self-reports, VLBW individuals demonstrate objective deficits in specific neuropsychological functions.
- This highlights a potential disconnect between subjective experience and objective cognitive performance in VLBW survivors.
Abstract:
Executive functions are goal-directed control mechanisms that modulate the operation of other cognitive processes. Preterm born very-low-birth-weight (VLBW: birth weight<1500 grams) children have more problems with attention/executive function than their term born peers. The objective of this study is to examine if VLBW young adults had more self-reported attention/ executive problems and lower neuropsychological test results than controls. Furthermore, to investigate the relationship between self-reported attention/executive problems, general cognitive ability (IQ) and test results. Forty-two VLBW [mean birth weight 1237 (219) grams, and gestational age 29.3 (2.4) weeks] and 63 term born controls at age 19 years completed The BRIEF-A self-report of attention/executive functions in everyday life. The Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale III was used to obtain IQ scores; subtests from Delis-Kaplan were used to assess attention/executive function. There were no differences between the VLBW young adults and controls on any of the BRIEF-A measures, but the VLBW subjects had lower scores on 8 of the 18 neuropsychological subtests (p<.01). Some correlations between BRIEF-A and the Stroop and TMT tests were found in the VLBW group. VLBW young adults do not report more problems regarding attention/executive function in daily life than controls despite lower results on several neuropsychological tests.
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