[Neurocognitive characteristics in children with sluggish cognitive tempo]

The aim of this study was to assess the neurocognitive characteristics of children diagnosed with sluggish cognitive tempo (SCT) and to evaluate the efficacy of Cortexin in addressing this condition.

The main study group included 40 children aged 12 to 14 years with symptoms consistent with SCT manifestations. The comparison group consisted of 30 children with combined ADHD (ADHD-C), also aged 12 to 14 years. The control group comprised 30 children in the same age range without any neuropsychiatric disorders. The study used several methods, including S. Lee's SCT scale for assessing the severity of SCT symptoms, the Multidimensional Fatigue Inventory (MFI-20), the Daytime Sleepiness Scale, and T.A. Fotekova and T.V. Akhutina's reading skills assessment method, the «Working Memory» method to quantifying working memory capabilities, the TOVA computer test, and EEG (routine and spectral analysis). Cortexin was administered intramuscularly at a standard dosage of 10 mg every other day across 10 injections to patients diagnosed with SCT.

The study results showed that children with SCT, in comparison to their counterparts with ADHD-C and healthy peers, exhibited significantly more pronounced asthenic symptoms and a higher prevalence of comorbid learning disorders. Quantitative EEG analysis revealed a reduced theta-to-alpha wave power ratio in the anterior cerebral cortex of the SCT group compared with the ADHD cohort. These findings support the hypothesis that children with SCT are less prone to exhibiting deficits in inhibition processes, while instead demonstrating a decline in overall levels of functional activity maintenance. A follow-up assessment after treatment revealed improvements in inattention, severity of working memory impairment, asthenic symptoms, and reading skills in 82% of cases. Additionally, EEG analysis post-treatment indicated a reduction in alpha-band power in the frontal and central leads of both hemispheres, suggesting enhanced overall cortical activation.

This study has delineated several cognitive characteristics associated with SCT in children and demonstrated that administering Cortexin significantly alleviates the primary symptoms of SCT and mitigates the manifestation of major comorbid disorders.