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Pediatric Research Oct 2022Among preterm infants, higher morbidities of neurological disturbances and developmental delays are critical issues. Resting-state networks (RSNs) in the brain are...
BACKGROUND
Among preterm infants, higher morbidities of neurological disturbances and developmental delays are critical issues. Resting-state networks (RSNs) in the brain are suitable measures for assessing higher-level neurocognition. Since investigating task-related brain activity is difficult in neonates, assessment of RSNs provides invaluable insight into their neurocognitive development.
METHODS
The participants, 32 term and 71 preterm neonates, were divided into three groups based on gestational age (GA) at birth. Cerebral hemodynamic activity of RSNs was measured using functional near-infrared spectroscopy in the temporal, frontal, and parietal regions.
RESULTS
High-GA preterm infants (GA ≥ 30 weeks) had a significantly stronger RSN than low-GA preterm infants and term infants. Regression analyses of RSNs as a function of postnatal age (PNA) revealed a steeper regression line in the high-GA preterm and term infants than in the low-GA infants, particularly for inter-area brain connectivity between the frontal and left temporal areas.
CONCLUSIONS
Slower PNA-dependent development of the frontal-temporal network found only in the low-GA group suggests that significant brain growth optimal in the intrauterine environment takes place before 30 weeks of gestation. The present study suggests a likely reason for the high incidence of neurodevelopmental impairment in early preterm infants.
IMPACT
Resting-state fNIRS measurements in three neonate groups differing in gestational age (GA) showed stronger networks in the high-GA preterm infants than in the term and low-GA infants, which was partly explained by postnatal age (PNA). Regression analyses revealed a similar PNA-dependence in the development of the inter-area networks in the frontal and temporal lobes in the high-GA and term infants, and significantly slower development in the low-GA infants. These results suggest that optimal intrauterine brain growth takes place before 30 weeks of gestation. This explains one of the reasons for the high incidence of neurodevelopmental impairment in early preterm infants.
Topics: Infant; Infant, Newborn; Humans; Infant, Premature; Brain; Gestational Age; Hemodynamics; Regression Analysis
PubMed: 35094022
DOI: 10.1038/s41390-022-01939-7 -
Child Maltreatment Nov 2021Children exposed to maltreatment are at risk of experiencing intimate partner violence (IPV) and behavioral problems. This study examined different forms of family...
Children exposed to maltreatment are at risk of experiencing intimate partner violence (IPV) and behavioral problems. This study examined different forms of family violence that co-occur and their relationship to children's externalizing behaviors across developmental stages (early childhood, middle childhood, adolescence). Longitudinal data ( = 1,987) at baseline and 18 months and 36 months post-baseline from the NSCAW II were used. Mixture modeling was employed in which latent class models estimated subgroups of children who experienced co-occurring forms of family violence; regression models estimated which subgroups of children were at risk of externalizing behaviors. Three latent classes were identified across developmental stages: high family violence, low family violence, and child physical abuse and psychological aggression. For children in early childhood, a fourth class was identified: partner and child physical abuse and child psychological aggression. Results from regression models revealed differences in externalizing scores by class membership across developmental age groups and over time. That distinct classes of child maltreatment and IPV co-occur and differentially impact children's behavior suggests a need for strong prevention and intervention responses to address children's dual maltreatment and IPV exposure.
Topics: Child; Child Abuse; Child, Preschool; Domestic Violence; Humans; Intimate Partner Violence; Physical Abuse; Problem Behavior
PubMed: 33438463
DOI: 10.1177/1077559520985934 -
BMC Pediatrics Sep 2014Parental concerns about their children's development can be used as an indicator of developmental risk. We undertook a systematic review of the prevalence of parents'... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis Review
BACKGROUND
Parental concerns about their children's development can be used as an indicator of developmental risk. We undertook a systematic review of the prevalence of parents' concerns as an indicator of developmental risk, measured by the Parents' Evaluation of Developmental Status (PEDS) and associated risk factors.
METHODS
Electronic databases, bibliographies and websites were searched and experts contacted. Studies were screened for eligibility and study characteristics were extracted independently by two authors. A summary estimate for prevalence was derived. Meta-regression examined the impact of study characteristics and quality. Meta-analysis was used to derive pooled estimates of the impact of biological and psychosocial risk factors on the odds of parental concerns indicating high developmental risk.
RESULTS
Thirty seven studies were identified with a total of 210,242 subjects. Overall 13.8% (95% CI 10.9 -16.8%) of parents had concerns indicating their child was at high developmental risk and 19.8% (95% CI 16.7-22.9%) had concerns indicating their child was at moderate developmental risk. Male gender, low birth weight, poor/fair child health rating, poor maternal mental health, lower socioeconomic status (SES), minority ethnicity, not being read to, a lack of access to health care and not having health insurance were significantly associated with parental concerns indicating a high developmental risk.
CONCLUSIONS
The prevalence of parental concerns measured with the PEDS indicating developmental risk is substantial. There is increased prevalence associated with biological and psychosocial adversity.
TRIAL REGISTRATION
PROSPERO Registration: CRD42012003215.
Topics: Child; Developmental Disabilities; Female; Global Health; Humans; Male; Parents; Regression Analysis; Risk Assessment; Risk Factors; Sex Factors; Socioeconomic Factors; Surveys and Questionnaires
PubMed: 25218133
DOI: 10.1186/1471-2431-14-231 -
Research on Child and Adolescent... Nov 2022Deficits in self-regulation capacity have been linked to subsequent impairment and clinical symptomology across the lifespan. Prior work has identified difficulty...
Deficits in self-regulation capacity have been linked to subsequent impairment and clinical symptomology across the lifespan. Prior work has identified difficulty regulating angry emotions (i.e., irritability) as a powerful transdiagnostic indicator of current and future clinical concerns. Less is known regarding how irritability intersects with cognitive features of self-regulation, in particular inhibitory control, despite its mental health relevance. A promising avenue for improving specificity of clinical predictions in early childhood is multi-method, joint consideration of irritability and inhibitory control capacities. To advance early identification of impairment and psychopathology risk, we contrast group- and variable-based models of neurodevelopmental vulnerability at the interface of irritability and inhibitory control in contexts of varied motivational and emotional salience. This work was conducted in a longitudinal study of children recruited at well-child visits in Midwestern pediatric clinics at preschool age (N = 223, age range = 3-7 years). Group-based models (clustering and regression of clusters on clinical outcomes) indicated significant heterogeneity of self-regulation capacity in this sample. Meanwhile, variable-based models (continuous multiple regression) evidenced associations with concurrent clinical presentation, future symptoms, and impairment across the broad spectrum of psychopathology. Irritability transdiagnostically indicated internalizing and externalizing problems, concurrently and longitudinally. In contrast, inhibitory control was uniquely associated with attention-deficit/hyperactivity symptoms. We present these findings to advance a joint consideration approach to two promising indicators of neurodevelopmental vulnerability and mental health risk. Models suggest that both emotional and cognitive self-regulation capacities can address challenges in characterizing the developmental unfolding of psychopathology from preschool to early childhood age.
Topics: Humans; Child, Preschool; Child; Longitudinal Studies; Irritable Mood; Psychopathology; Anger; Mental Disorders
PubMed: 35838931
DOI: 10.1007/s10802-022-00945-x -
Journal of Child Psychology and... Apr 2017Jack and Pelphrey provide a systematic review of neuroimaging studies in understudied populations within the autistic spectrum, focussing specifically on those with...
Jack and Pelphrey provide a systematic review of neuroimaging studies in understudied populations within the autistic spectrum, focussing specifically on those with minimal verbal ability, intellectual disability and developmental regression. Despite accounting for nearly a third of the autistic spectrum, the number of studies focussing on these populations is extremely low. This review highlights a critical need for further neuroimaging research on these populations, and provides practical suggestions for overcoming the challenges posed by it. In this commentary, I discuss some of the theoretical questions that arise from the review, on the conceptualisation of the autistic spectrum as well as on optimising experimental design and analysis.
Topics: Autistic Disorder; Child Development Disorders, Pervasive; Humans; Neuroimaging; Research
PubMed: 28346760
DOI: 10.1111/jcpp.12720 -
BJPsych Open Jan 2023It is well established that maternal mental illness is associated with an increased risk of poor development for children. However, inconsistencies in findings regarding...
BACKGROUND
It is well established that maternal mental illness is associated with an increased risk of poor development for children. However, inconsistencies in findings regarding the nature of the difficulties children experience may be explained by methodological or geographical differences.
AIMS
We used a common methodological approach to compare developmental vulnerability for children whose mothers did and did not have a psychiatric hospital admission between conception and school entry in Manitoba, Canada, and Western Australia, Australia. We aimed to determine if there are common patterns to the type and timing of developmental difficulties across the two settings.
METHOD
Participants included children who were assessed with the Early Development Instrument in Manitoba, Canada ( = 69 785), and Western Australia, Australia ( = 19 529). We examined any maternal psychiatric hospital admission (obtained from administrative data) between conception and child's school entry, as well as at specific time points (pregnancy and each year until school entry).
RESULTS
Log-binomial regressions modelled the risk of children of mothers with psychiatric hospital admissions being developmentally vulnerable. In both Manitoba and Western Australia, an increased risk of developmental vulnerability on all domains was found. Children had an increased risk of developmental vulnerability regardless of their age at the time their mother was admitted to hospital.
CONCLUSIONS
This cross-national comparison provides further evidence of an increased risk of developmental vulnerability for children whose mothers experience severe mental health difficulties. Provision of preventative services during early childhood to children whose mothers experience mental ill health may help to mitigate developmental difficulties at school entry.
PubMed: 36715086
DOI: 10.1192/bjo.2022.642 -
Journal of Speech, Language, and... Apr 2019Purpose Attention and language are hypothesized to interact in bilingual children and in children with developmental language disorder (DLD). In children who are...
Purpose Attention and language are hypothesized to interact in bilingual children and in children with developmental language disorder (DLD). In children who are bilingual, attentional control may be enhanced by repeated experience regulating 2 languages. In children with DLD, subtle weaknesses in sustained attention may relate to impaired language processing. This study measured attentional control and sustained attention in monolingual and bilingual children with and without DLD in order to examine the potential influences of bilingualism and DLD, as well as their intersection, on attention. Method Monolingual English-only and bilingual Spanish-English children aged 6-8 years were categorized into participant groups based on eligibility testing and parent interviews. Parent interviews included standardized assessment of language environment and parent concern regarding language. Participants completed 2 nonlinguistic computerized assessments: a flanker task to measure attentional control and a continuous performance task to measure sustained attention. Results One hundred nine children met all eligibility criteria for inclusion in a participant group. Regression models predicting performance on the attention tasks were similar for both sustained attention and attentional control. For both tasks, DLD was a significant predictor, and bilingualism was not. Measuring bilingualism continuously using parent-reported exposure did not alter results. Conclusions This study found no evidence of a "bilingual cognitive advantage" on 2 types of attention among sequential Spanish-English bilingual children but also found a negative effect of DLD that was consistent across both types of attention and both bilingual and monolingual children. Results are consistent with the broader literature on subtle nonlinguistic deficits in children with DLD and suggest these deficits are minimally affected by diverse linguistic experience.
Topics: Attention; Child; Child Language; Female; Humans; Language Development Disorders; Male; Multilingualism; Neuropsychological Tests
PubMed: 30969901
DOI: 10.1044/2018_JSLHR-L-18-0221 -
Cortex; a Journal Devoted To the Study... 2013Developmental dyscalculia is thought to be a specific impairment of mathematics ability. Currently dominant cognitive neuroscience theories of developmental dyscalculia...
Developmental dyscalculia is thought to be a specific impairment of mathematics ability. Currently dominant cognitive neuroscience theories of developmental dyscalculia suggest that it originates from the impairment of the magnitude representation of the human brain, residing in the intraparietal sulcus, or from impaired connections between number symbols and the magnitude representation. However, behavioral research offers several alternative theories for developmental dyscalculia and neuro-imaging also suggests that impairments in developmental dyscalculia may be linked to disruptions of other functions of the intraparietal sulcus than the magnitude representation. Strikingly, the magnitude representation theory has never been explicitly contrasted with a range of alternatives in a systematic fashion. Here we have filled this gap by directly contrasting five alternative theories (magnitude representation, working memory, inhibition, attention and spatial processing) of developmental dyscalculia in 9-10-year-old primary school children. Participants were selected from a pool of 1004 children and took part in 16 tests and nine experiments. The dominant features of developmental dyscalculia are visuo-spatial working memory, visuo-spatial short-term memory and inhibitory function (interference suppression) impairment. We hypothesize that inhibition impairment is related to the disruption of central executive memory function. Potential problems of visuo-spatial processing and attentional function in developmental dyscalculia probably depend on short-term memory/working memory and inhibition impairments. The magnitude representation theory of developmental dyscalculia was not supported.
Topics: Attention; Child; Data Interpretation, Statistical; Developmental Disabilities; Female; Humans; Imagination; Inhibition, Psychological; Intelligence Tests; Learning Disabilities; Male; Mathematics; Memory; Memory, Short-Term; Neuropsychological Tests; Psychomotor Performance; Reaction Time; Regression Analysis; Rotation; Size Perception; Space Perception; Stroop Test; Trail Making Test; Visual Perception
PubMed: 23890692
DOI: 10.1016/j.cortex.2013.06.007 -
Research in Developmental Disabilities Jul 2023Nearly half of all children with CP experience intellectual impairment, with impacts on academic achievement.
BACKGROUND
Nearly half of all children with CP experience intellectual impairment, with impacts on academic achievement.
AIMS
To assess cognitive and academic functioning for primary-school aged children with CP METHODS AND PROCEDURES: This population-based cohort study assessed 93 participants (male n = 62; mean = 9 years 9 months, SD 1 y 1.8 months) on measures of fluid and crystallised intelligence (Raven's Coloured Progressive Matrices, Peabody Picture Vocabulary Test) and academic achievement (Wechsler Individual Achievement Test). Analyses included t-tests, Pearson's chi-square and regression.
OUTCOMES AND RESULTS
41 (44.1%) children met criteria consistent with intellectual developmental disorder. Academic skills were significantly below population means on word reading (M= 85.4, SD = 19.3), t(66) = -6.2, p < .001; spelling (M=83.3, SD=19.7) t(65) = -6.87, p < .001; and numerical operations (M=72.9, SD=21.7) Z = 66.0, p < .001. Cognitive ability was associated with GMFCS level (χ² (1, N = 93) = 16.15, p < .001) and diagnosis of epilepsy (χ² (2, N = 93) = 11.51 p = .003). Crystallised and fluid intelligence together accounted for 65% of the variance in word reading, 56% in spelling and 52% in numerical operations.
IMPLICATIONS
Many children with CP experience academic challenges. Screening is recommended for all children with CP and full psychoeducational assessment undertaken when children with CP experience academic difficulties.
Topics: Humans; Male; Child; Female; Cohort Studies; Cerebral Palsy; Cognition; Intelligence Tests; Intelligence
PubMed: 37099882
DOI: 10.1016/j.ridd.2023.104504 -
Journal of Autism and Developmental... Mar 2023Adult siblings are potentially important sources of care, support, advocacy, and friendship for their brothers and sisters with intellectual and developmental...
Adult siblings are potentially important sources of care, support, advocacy, and friendship for their brothers and sisters with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD). Drawing on data about 851 adult siblings who completed an online national survey, we examined predictors and potential key moderators of siblings' mental distress, wellbeing, quality of life, and health outcomes. Moderated regression analyses indicated that siblings experiencing higher levels of subjective poverty; siblings with brothers and sisters with lower levels of independence; and siblings who are carers and also experiencing low levels of subjective poverty, had worse outcomes and may be in need of specific supports. Compared to normative samples, adult siblings of people with IDD had worse outcomes across the measures.
Topics: Male; Child; Adult; Humans; Siblings; Caregivers; Developmental Disabilities; Quality of Life; Intellectual Disability; Autism Spectrum Disorder; Poverty
PubMed: 35304664
DOI: 10.1007/s10803-022-05520-3