Neuropsychological effects and cognitive deficits associated with exposure to mercury and arsenic in children and adolescents of the Mojana region, Colombia.

The present study aims to explore the neuropsychological performance and exposure to mercury (Hg) and arsenic (As) in Colombian children and adolescents considering biomarkers in hair and blood. The total sample consisted of 70 participants from the Mojana region, Colombia. A neuropsychological evaluation protocol was used, consisting of 11 internationally recognized tests, with evidence of national validation and use for measurement in neurotoxicology contexts. A 57.1% of the sample presented levels above the reference value according to the USEPA, the WHO, and the ATSDR for total mercury in hair (HgH), blood mercury (HgB), and/or blood arsenic (AsB). The mean values reported for HgH were 1.76 ± 3.1 µg/g (95% CI 1.02-2.50) with ranges between 0.23 and 17.20; for HgB: 4.11 ± 5.93 µg/l (CI 2.69-5.52), ranging between 0.25 and 25.80, and for AsB: 1.96 ± 2.73 (CI 1.31-2.61) ranging between 0.50 and 15.50. In the comparison of groups in relation to the level of exposure, a significant difference was found (p < 0.05) for the subtest The Boston Naming Test (BNT). Correlation analyses found, on the one hand, significant negative relationships in tests integrated within the verbal (CVB) and executive function (EF) components as well as evidence of positive relationships in the manifestation of errors in their performance with the levels of Hg and/or As transformed by biomarker (Log10). In the linear regression analyses it was found that for each increase in the concentration of HgH, HgB, and AsB it is estimated that, both for the models with and without data adjustment, there is a loss of scores in integrated measures within the CVB and EF for the transformed levels of HgH, HgB, and AsB; and an increase in the reported errors in their processing within these functions. According to these results, exposure to mercury and/or arsenic is related with performance in verbal neuropsychological skills and executive functioning.

Desempeño neurocognitivo de la atención, memoria y función ejecutiva en una población infanto-juvenil escolarizada con y sin presencia de sintomatología internalizante / Neurocognitive performance focuses on attention, memory and executive function in children and adolescents with or without internalizing symptoms

Resumen Objetivo: El presente artículo resultado de investigación tiene como objetivo caracterizar el desempeño neurocognitivo de la atención, memoria y función ejecutiva en una muestra de 50 niños, niñas y adolescentes entre los 10 y 15 años con y sin presencia de sintomatología internalizante. Método: Paradigma positivista, con diseño cuantitativo de tipo descriptivo-comparativo y de corte transversal; para la medición de las variables se utilizaron tres instrumentos: 1. El SCARED para identificar los síntomas de ansiedad; 2. El CDI para los síntomas depresivos; y 3. La ENI para evaluar el desempeño neurocognitivo. Resultados: Se encontró que los niveles de atención, memoria y función ejecutiva fueron similares para los grupos con síntomas ansiosos, depresivos y sin síntomas. Los hallazgos obtenidos en la presente investigación se relacionan con los resultados de algunos estudios identificados entre los años 2003 y 2011. Conclusiones: Esta publicación puede constituirse en un referente importante para el desarrollo de futuros trabajos investigativos enfocados al estudio del desempeño neurocognitivo en poblaciones con y sin presencia de síntomas internalizantes. Se hace necesario promover el número de investigaciones a nivel de la costa Caribe colombiana con el fin de establecer las posibles relaciones o comparaciones entre las variables neurocognitivas y emocionales, así como también, contribuir a la discusión teórica alrededor de la temática de estudio.

Abstract Objective: This paper aims to characterize the neurocognitive performance focuses on attention, memory and executive function; 50 children and adolescents between 10 and 15 years old with and without internalizing symptoms prevalence, were sampled. Method: Positivist paradigm, quantitative design of descriptive-comparative, and cross-sectional study was conducted; for variables measurement, three instruments were used: 1. The SCARED to identify the anxiety symptoms; 2. The CDI for depressive symptoms; 3. The ENI to evaluate neuro-cognitive performance. Results: This research shows as a result that the levels of attention, memory and executive function were similar for groups with anxiety symptoms, depressive symptoms, or without symptoms. Findings of this research show relationship between the results for 2003 and 2011. Conclusions: This paper might be an important reference for neurocognitive performance development related to populations with or without internalizing symptoms in the future. It is necessary to promote the number of researches at Colombian Caribbean coast in order to establish possible relationship or differences between neurocognitive and emotional variables, as well as contributing for a theoretical discussion corresponding to the topic of this study.

Características neuropsicológicas en adolescentes infractores de la ciudad de sincelejo-sucre / Neuropsychological features in adolescent offenders the city of sincelejo-sucre

Se da a conocer en este artículo, los resultados de una investigación que tuvo como objetivo caracterizar las alteraciones neuropsicológicas en adolescentes infractores institucionalizados en un programa del Sistema de Responsabilidad Penal para Adolescentes de Sincelejo. Estos menores presentaban un rango de edad de 12 a 17. Como instrumento se utilizó un protocolo de neurociencias estandarizado en población colombiana que mide diversas funciones cognitivas. Los resultados indicaron que estos menores poseen déficit leve en procesos como velocidad del procesamiento de información, procesos viso-perceptivos, atención dirigida, dividida y lento aprendizaje. Por otro lado no mostraron alteraciones significativas en memoria, función ejecutiva y fluidez verbal; igualmente tampoco se observaron características predominantes hacia el consumo de drogas y alcohol; pero sí mostraron porcentajes significativos hacia la deserción escolar y el ocio.

This paper reports the results of an investigation aimed to characterize the neuropsychological disorders in institutionalized adolescent offenders in a program of Criminal Responsibility System for Adolescents of Sincelejo. These children had an age range of 12-17. Instrument as a standardized protocol neuroscience Colombian population that measure diversus cognitive functions was used. The results indicated that these children have mild deficits in processes such as information processing speed, visual-perceptual processes, directed attention, divided and slow learners. On the other hand showed no significant alterations in memory, executive function and verbal fluency; likewise also predominant features were observed towards the consumption of drugs and alcohol; but showed significant percentages to dropout and leisure.