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Family screening for neurodevelopmental problems and its associations with child cognitive function enable tailored
Maria Dellenmark-Blom1, Kajsa Järvholm2,3,4, Lovisa Sjögren1,4,5
1Department of Pediatrics, Institute of Clinical Sciences, Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden.
Insights
Children with obesity often have undiagnosed neurodevelopmental disorders like ADHD. Parental neurodevelopmental issues and lower cognitive functions, particularly working memory, are linked to these childhood conditions.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Endocrinology
- Neurodevelopmental Disorders
- Child Psychology
Background:
- Obesity in children is a growing concern.
- Neurodevelopmental disorders (NDDs) can impact a child's development and well-being.
- The co-occurrence of NDDs and childhood obesity requires further investigation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To identify NDDs in children with obesity.
- To examine the association between NDDs and cognitive functions in these children.
- To explore the link between parental self-reported NDDs and their children's neurodevelopmental status.
Main Methods:
- Screening of 50 children with obesity and their parents for NDDs at Swedish outpatient clinics.
- Referral of children screening positive for NDDs to specialized psychiatric units for diagnosis.
- Comparison of cognitive functioning test results with normative data and between diagnostic groups.
Main Results:
- 17/50 children were diagnosed with attention deficit-hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).
- 15/82 parents screened positive for NDDs; maternal NDDs were associated with child ADHD.
- Children exhibited lower than norm full-scale IQ and working memory index, with lower working memory in children with ADHD.
Conclusions:
- There is a significant overlap between neurodevelopmental problems and childhood obesity.
- Increased clinical awareness is crucial in obesity clinics to address co-occurring NDDs.
- Early identification and intervention for NDDs in children with obesity are warranted.
Aim:
To identify neurodevelopmental disorders in children with obesity, and investigate associations to cognitive functions as well as parents' self-reported neurodevelopmental problems.
Methods:
Eighty children were included at two outpatient obesity clinics in Sweden 2018-2019. Of these, 50 children without previously diagnosed neurodevelopmental disorders were screened, and so were their parents. Children who screened positive for neurodevelopmental problems were referred to a specialised psychiatry unit for further diagnosis. Test results of cognitive functioning were compared with the norm and between study groups by neurodevelopmental diagnoses.
Results:
Of the screened families, 17/50 children were diagnosed by the psychiatric unit with attention deficit-hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and 15/82 parents screened positive for neurodevelopmental problems. Having a mother who screened positive for neurodevelopmental problems was associated with child ADHD (p < 0.05). The children's full-scale intelligence quotient (92.86 ± 12.01, p < 0.001) and working memory index (90.62 ± 12.17, p < 0.001) were lower than the norm. Working memory index was lower in children with ADHD compared to without ADHD: 84.76 ± 9.58 versus 94.09 ± 12.29 (p ≤ 0.01). Executive constraints were associated with verbal deviances.
Conclusion:
Increased awareness is needed about the overlap between neurodevelopmental problems and obesity in obesity clinics.
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Diagnostic Criteria and Symptoms
To diagnose ADHD, symptoms must manifest before age 12 and be evident across multiple settings....