Cognitive Functioning of Children in Out-of-Home Care.

PURPOSE: Most children who enter out-of-home care (OHC) have been subjected to prolonged maltreatment. Maltreatment potentially contributes to a cumulative deficit in neurocognitive maturation and development that is likely to proceed with the child's placement into OHC and persist throughout adulthood. From the theoretical perspective of how maltreatment may affect the developing brain, this study examines the IQ and executive function of children placed in OHC on standardized, norm-referenced measures. Furthermore, the study investigates the prevalence of serious cognitive delays, defined by scores in the clinical range on the administered instruments. METHODS: The study included 153 children in foster care (66% female), aged 6-15 (M = 10.5, SD = 2.1). Independent two-sample t-tests were run to test for significant differences between the sample and the norm population on the applied neuropsychological measures. RESULTS: The results showed that discrepancies in cognitive development were global in scope, with the children lagging significantly behind the norm population on all applied measures with discrepancies ranging from 0.61 to 2.10 SD (p < .001). Also, serious developmental delays in all cognitive domains were vastly overrepresented in the sample ranging from 11.3% (IQ) to 66.0% (executive function). CONCLUSIONS: The results document a very high prevalence of cognitive deficits and delays among the children in the sample. The implications of identifying the neurocognitive effects of maltreatment in the practices of the child welfare system are discussed in terms of developing suitable assessment and intervention strategies.

Generalizability of the Swedish WISC-V to the Finland-Swedish minority - the FinSwed study.

International guidelines highlight the importance of using appropriate and culturally fair test materials when conducting clinical psychological assessments. In the present study, the generalizability of the Swedish WISC-V with Scandinavian normative data was explored in 6-16-year-old Swedish-speaking children in Finland (N = 134), as no local test versions or norms are available for this minority. First, metric measurement invariance was established, i.e., the constructs measured were equivalent between the standardization data and the present sample. Second, the performance of this minority group on the Swedish WISC-V was compared to the Scandinavian normative mean. The findings showed that the Finland-Swedish children performed overall higher than the normative mean on the Swedish WISC-V, with an FSIQ of 103. The performance was significantly higher also in the indexes VSI, FRI, and WMI as well as in several subtests. However, in the subtest Vocabulary, the Finland-Swedish children achieved significantly lower scores than the Scandinavian mean. Further analyses showed significant associations between cognitive performance and age as well as parental education. For the VCI and the FSIQ, performance increased significantly with age, despite the use of age-standardized scaled scores. The general high performance was suggested to relate to the overall high educational level of the Finland-Swedes as well as to other cultural and test-related factors. The results have implications for clinicians conducting assessments with this minority, but also highlight the importance of establishing test fairness by validating tests when used in different cultural groups.

Intellectual function and memory in children with moyamoya disease: relationship between Wechsler Intelligence Scale and Benton Visual Retention Test scores and regional cerebral blood flow.

OBJECTIVE: Intellectual function declines in about 30% of children with moyamoya disease (MMD). Memory function underpins higher order brain function, but the relationship between intellectual function and memory in pediatric MMD patients has not been well studied. This study aimed to investigate correlations between scores on the Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children (WISC) and the Benton Visual Retention Test (BVRT), a visual memory test that can be administered to children, in children with MMD. Relationships between intellectual function or memory and regional cerebral blood flow (rCBF) have also not been well clarified in pediatric MMD patients. The authors also investigated associations between WISC or BVRT scores and rCBF in various brain regions. METHODS: WISC and BVRT scores and rCBF were assessed in 17 children with ischemic-onset MMD before revascularization. Single-photon emission CT with 123I-iodoamphetamine was used to measure rCBF. Relationships between WISC and BVRT scores were evaluated using Spearman's correlation coefficient and multivariate linear regression analysis. Cutoff values were identified for BVRT scores. Sensitivity and specificity were calculated to predict full-scale intelligence quotient (FSIQ) > 85 or ≤ 85. Associations between rCBF and WISC or BVRT scores were evaluated using linear regression analysis. RESULTS: BVRT scores were significantly correlated with FSIQ and scores on the Working Memory Index (WMI), Processing Speed Index, and Verbal Comprehension Index (VCI)/Verbal Intelligence Quotient (VIQ) of WISC. Multivariate linear regression revealed that number correct score and number of errors score of BVRT were associated with FSIQ. As cutoff values, a number correct score of 5 and a number of errors score of 8 offered the most reliable predictors of FSIQ > 85 and ≤ 85, respectively. FSIQ correlated positively with rCBF in the right and left hemispheres, right and left ganglia, right and left thalamus, right and left cerebellum, right middle cerebral artery (MCA) territory, pons, and vermis. WMI score was positively associated with rCBF in the right hemisphere, right anterior cerebral artery territory, right MCA territory, right basal ganglia, right and left thalamus, right and left cerebellum, pons, and vermis. CONCLUSIONS: BVRT score correlated well with WISC index scores, suggesting that BVRT may be helpful in screening for intellectual impairments in children with MMD. In the MCA territory, basal ganglia, thalamus, cerebellum, pons, and vermis, rCBF associated well with WISC index scores, suggesting that reduced rCBF in relevant brain regions may influence intellectual function.

Patterns of WISC-V Performance in Children with Congenital Heart Disease.

Congenital heart disease (CHD) is one of the most common congenital birth defects. As surgical and interventional techniques have improved, the mortality has been greatly reduced and the focus has shifted to quality of life and long-term outcomes. The impact of CHD on development and cognition is becoming increasingly recognized. However, more research is needed to understand how children with CHD perform across various cognitive and intellectual domains. This study explored the performance of children with CHD on the newest version of the Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children compared to normative controls. Children with CHD performed more poorly than normal controls across all indices and most subtests with large effect sizes. Additionally, we explored the patterns of impairment across indices and subtests, as well as the relationships between heard disease variables and WISC-V performance. Block design, Digit Span, and Similarities were the most commonly impaired scores in children with CHD, while Symbol Search, Picture Span, Figure Weights, and Vocabulary were least likely to be impaired.

Questioning cognitive heterogeneity and intellectual functioning in fetal alcohol spectrum disorders from the Wechsler intelligence scale for children.

Introduction: Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders (FASD) are characterized by a variety of multiple cognitive and behavioral impairments, with intellectual, attentional, and executive impairments being the most commonly reported. In populations with multiple neurodevelopmental disorders, the Full Scale Intelligence Quotient (FSIQ) may not be a proper measure of intellectual abilities, rarely interpreted in FASD clinical practice because the heterogeneity of the cognitive profile is deemed too strong. We propose a quantitative characterization of this heterogeneity, of the strengths and weaknesses profile, and a differential analysis between global cognitive (FSIQ) and elementary reasoning abilities in a large retrospective monocentric FASD sample. Methods: Using clinical and cognitive data (Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children) from 107 children with FASD, we characterized subject heterogeneity (variance and scatter of scaled/composite scores), searched for strengths and weaknesses, and specified intellectual functioning in terms of FSIQ and elementary reasoning (General Abilities Index, Highest Reasoning Scaled Score), in comparison with standardization norms and a Monte-Carlo-simulated sample from normalization data. Results: Performance of children with FASD was lower on all subtests, with a significant weakness in working memory and processing speed. We found no increase in the variance and scatter of the scores, but a discordance between the assessment of global cognitive functioning (28% borderline, 23% deficient) and that of global and elementary reasoning abilities (23-9% borderline, 15-14% deficient). Conclusion: Our results question the notion of WISC profile heterogeneity in FASD and point to working memory and processing speed over-impairment, with global repercussions but most often preserved elementary reasoning abilities.

Cognitive Performance and Exposure to Organophosphate Flame Retardants in Children: Evidence from a Cross-Sectional Analysis of Two European Mother-Child Cohorts.

The knowledge of the effects of organophosphate flame retardants on children's neurodevelopment is limited. The purpose of the present research is to evaluate the association between exposure to organophosphate flame retardants and children's neurodevelopment in two European cohorts involved in the Human Biomonitoring Initiative Aligned Studies. The participants were school-aged children belonging to the Odense Child Cohort (Denmark) and the PCB cohort (Slovakia). In each cohort, the children's neurodevelopment was assessed through the Full-Scale Intelligence Quotient score of the Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children, using two different editions. The children's urine samples, collected at one point in time, were analyzed for several metabolites of organophosphate flame retardants. The association between neurodevelopment and each organophosphate flame retardant metabolite was explored by applying separate multiple linear regressions based on the approach of MM-estimation in each cohort. In the Danish cohort, the mean ± standard deviation for the neurodevelopment score was 98 ± 12; the geometric mean (95% confidence interval (95% CI)) of bis(1,3-dichloro-2-propyl) phosphate (BDCIPP) standardized by creatinine (crt) was 0.52 µg/g crt (95% CI = 0.49; 0.60), while that of diphenyl phosphate (DPHP) standardized by crt was 1.44 µg/g crt (95% CI = 1.31; 1.58). The neurodevelopment score showed a small, negative, statistically imprecise trend with BDCIPP standardized by crt (ß = -1.30; 95%CI = -2.72; 0.11; p-value = 0.07) and no clear association with DPHP standardized by crt (ß = -0.98; 95%CI = -2.96; 0.99; p-value = 0.33). The neurodevelopment score showed a negative trend with BDCIPP (ß = -1.42; 95% CI = -2.70; -0.06; p-value = 0.04) and no clear association with DPHP (ß = -1.09; 95% CI = -2.87; 0.68; p-value = 0.23). In the Slovakian cohort, the mean ± standard deviation for the neurodevelopment score was 81 ± 15; the geometric mean of BDCIPP standardized by crt was 0.18 µg/g crt (95% CI = 0.16; 0.20), while that of DPHP standardized by crt was 2.24 µg/g crt (95% CI = 2.00; 3.52). The association of the neurodevelopment score with BDCIPP standardized by crt was -0.49 (95%CI = -1.85; 0.87; p-value = 0.48), and with DPHP standardized by crt it was -0.35 (95%CI = -1.90; 1.20; p-value = 0.66). No clear associations were observed between the neurodevelopment score and BDCIPP/DPHP concentrations that were not standardized by crt. No clear associations were observed with bis(1-chloro-2-propyl) phosphate (BCIPP) in either cohort, due to the low detection frequency of this compound. In conclusion, this study provides only limited evidence of an inverse association between neurodevelopment and exposure to BDCIPP and DPHP. The timing of exposure and effect modification of other organophosphate flame retardant metabolites and other substances should be the subject of further investigations that address this scientific hypothesis.

Verbal Abilities: Sex Differences in Children at Different Ages.

Background: The assertion of sex differences in verbal abilities is a highly controversial subject. Some studies have demonstrated a female advantage; other studies have found higher rates in males. The results depended on the type of verbal ability that was studied, the cultural context, and the ages of the subjects. There are two types of theories that have been developed to explain the existence of sex differences in cognitive abilities. Social theories explain the differences as caused by social determinants. Biological theories consider biological factors such as prenatal development conditions and hormone levels, among others, as the cause of sex differences. Objective: To investigate sex differences in verbal abilities in children of different ages. Design: Two different editions of Wechsler tests were used. For children age 2.5 to 5 years, the Wechsler Preschool Primary Scale of Intelligence (WPPSI-IV) was used. For children age 6 and older, we administered the Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children (WISC-V). The total sample included 313 children. Results: The study found significant sex differences in performance on the Verbal Comprehension Scale in children of different ages. At the age of 2 to 4 years, the girls performed better than the boys. In the group of boys, there was a significant increase in verbal abilities at the age of 8-9 years. By the age of 10-11 years, boys began outperforming girls on the Verbal Comprehension Index. Scores on the Verbal Comprehension and Visual Spatial subtests for the boy sample showed stronger correlations than in the girl sample in all age groups. Conclusion: Sex differences in verbal abilities varied depending on the age of the children. The boys showed a stronger integration of their verbal abilities into the structure of their intelligence than the girls.

Visual Function and Neuropsychological Profiling of Idiopathic Infantile Nystagmus.

Though considered a benign condition, idiopathic infantile nystagmus (IIN) may be associated with decreased visual acuity and oculo-motor abnormalities, resulting in developmental delays and poor academic performance. Nevertheless, the specific visual function profile of IIN and its possible impact on neuropsychological development have been poorly investigated. To fill this gap, we retrospectively collected the clinical data of 60 children presenting with IIN over a 10-year period (43 male; mean age of 7 years, range of 2 months-17 years, 9 months). The majority of the subjects in our cohort presented with reduced visual acuity for far distances and normal visual acuity for near distances, associated with oculo-motor abnormalities. The overall scores of cognitive and visual-cognitive tests were in the normal range, but revealed peculiar cognitive and visual-cognitive profiles, defined by specific frailties in processing speed and visual-motor integration. The same neuropsychological profiles characterize many neurodevelopmental disorders and may express a transnosographic vulnerability of the dorsal stream. As the first study to explore the neuropsychologic competencies in children with IIN, our study unveils the presence of subclinical frailties that need to be addressed to sustain academic and social inclusion.

Gender Differences in the Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children in a Large Group of Italian Children with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder.

Despite being repeatedly investigated in children with typical development, research on gender differences in intellectual abilities in specific groups of children, including children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), has been scarce. In this paper, we evaluated the performance of a large group of Italian children with ADHD using the WISC-IV. We aimed at investigating the presence of gender differences using a multi-group confirmatory factor analysis approach. Results showed that the WISC is largely gender-invariant. However, some tasks present non-invariant patterns (block design and coding). Differences at the latent level also showed some differences (favoring boys) in the verbal comprehension index. Conversely, differences at the latent level were not found in the full-scale IQ or in the other main indices. These results have theoretical and practical implications.

Investigating the Structure of the French WISC-V (WISC-VFR) for Five Age Groups Using Psychometric Network Modeling.

Since the seminal work of Spearman, exploratory and confirmatory factor analysis represents the standard method of examining the dimensionality of psychological instruments. Recently, within the network psychometrics approach, a new procedure was proposed to estimate the dimensionality of psychological instruments: exploratory graph analysis (EGA). This study investigated the structure of the French Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children-Fifth Edition (WISC-VFR) with five standardization sample age groups (6-7, 8-9, 10-11, 12-13, and 14-16 years) using EGA. The primary research questions include (a) how many WISC-VFR dimensions are identified in each age subgroup? (b) how are subtest scores associated within the dimensions? Because the number and the content of the dimensions identified by EGA could vary with samples, the secondary research questions include (c) is there evidence of reproducibility and generalizability of the dimensions identified by EGA? We used another procedure called bootstrap exploratory graph analysis (bootEGA). EGA and bootEGA suggested only three dimensions, which are consistent with processing speed, verbal comprehension, and the "old" perceptual reasoning factor. Results did not support the distinction between visual-spatial and fluid reasoning dimensions. EGA and bootEGA represent new tools to assess the construct validity of psychological instruments, such as the WISC-VFR.

Cross-sectional evaluation of the association between greenness and cognitive performance in Mexican pre-pubertal boys.

BACKGROUND: Evidence shows that greenspace exposure benefits children's health and cognitive development. However, evidence assessing this association in young children in low- and middle-income economies is scarce. OBJECTIVE: To assess the association between exposure to greenness and cognitive performance in pre-pubertal boys living in Mexico City. METHODS: Cross-sectional study using data from 144 boys aged 6-11 years living in Mexico City in 2017 and enrolled in the "MetCog" study. Cognitive performance was evaluated through selected Wechsler Scale for Intelligence in Children Fourth Edition (WISC-IV) and Neuropsychological Assessment of Children (Evaluación Neuropsicológica Infantil, ENI) tests. Exposure to greenness was assessed through Normalised Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) at 300, 500, 1500, 2000, and 3000 m buffer zones from children's residences. Multiple linear regression analysis was undertaken to assess associations between cognitive performance and greenness (aß) with 95% confidence intervals (CI) and adjusted for potential confounding variables. Significance was set at q < 0.05 after False Discovery Rate (FDR) correction. RESULTS: A positive association was found between the NDVI Interquartile Range (IQR) at 2000 m and the WISC-IV block design test score (aß 2000 = 1.18, 95% CI = 0.31, 2.06; q < 0.05), which assesses perceptual reasoning. Positive associations were found with NDVI IQR at 1500 m and WISC-IV block design (aß1500 = 1.00, 95% CI = 0.14, 1.86) and matrix reasoning (aß1500 = 0.83, 95% CI = 0.06, 1.61) scores, but neither survived FDR correction. No significant associations were found between NDVI IQR at any buffer size with other WISC-IV and ENI task scores. CONCLUSIONS: Greater exposure to greenness was associated with higher perceptual reasoning skills in 144 pre-pubertal boys living in Mexico City. Thus, urban planning should consider increasing vegetation in megacities, especially in neighbourhoods with high percentages of young children.

Functional hearing loss and developmental imbalances.

OBJECTIVE: Functional hearing loss (FHL) is a disorder in which there are abnormal values on a hearing test, despite the absence of organic abnormalities in the peripheral and central auditory pathways. Here, we examined the developmental characteristics of FHL and the importance of intervention by analyzing the clinical characteristics of children with this disorder. METHODS: We retrospectively examined 16 patients assessed under a diagnosis of FHL. After interventions such as psychological counseling by our pediatrics and psychiatry departments, we compared the clinical profiles of patients in which hearing was "improved/normalized" and "unimproved". RESULTS: Fourteen patients visited a pediatrician and two chose not to do so. A discrepancy between the maximum and minimum values of the four index scores was observed in all patients in which WISC-IV (the fourth version of the Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children) was performed (n = 12). The discrepancy between the verbal comprehension index (VCI) and perceptual reasoning index (PRI) was significantly greater in "unimproved" patients than in "improved/normalized" patients. Hearing improved, or was normalized, after intervention in six of 16 patients. CONCLUSIONS: Developmental imbalances were suspected in all 12 children who visited a pediatrician and completed the WISC-IV. Cooperation with pediatricians, psychiatrists, and other health professionals is desirable in supporting patients diagnosed with FHL.

Measurement data from real operation of a hybrid photovoltaic-thermal solar collectors, used for the development of a data-driven model.

This article presents a measurement dataset from real operation of a hybrid photovoltaic-thermal solar collector. The data is from a summer period, when the collector works at its higher temperature limit, with low thermal efficiency. The dataset characterizes the output of the collector: thermal (heat transfer fluid flowrate, inlet and outlet temperatures) and electrical (raw current and voltage, Hampel filtered power). Further information on the collector are the PV cell temperature and the back surface temperature (in three points). It provides detailed weather information: ambient temperature, solar resource (direct normal, global and diffuse horizontal, global tilted in the collector plane), equivalent radiative sky temperature (calculated from a pyrgeometer), wind speed and direction both horizontal and in the tilted collector plane. The calculated sun position with Duffie and Beckmann method is also given (elevation and azimuth) . The dataset covers 58 summer days from 11th July to 6th September, with a 5 second time step. The data is available as .mat file (MATLAB) and .csv file. A selection of variables from this dataset has already been used in the development of a data-driven model (see related article) [1]. The extended data presented in this article offers mode detailed weather information, opening further investigations opportunities. Further options for data-driven modelling of PVT collectors could be investigated. The correlation of wind related losses to horizontal wind measurements could be compared to a model with wind measurements in the collector plane. The dataset could support the validation of solar models, with direct and diffuse shares on the horizontal or in the tilted plane.

Association of the Comprehensive Attention Test and the Korean Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children-Fourth Edition in Children and Adolescents With Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder.

Objectives: This study aimed to investigate the correlation between the Comprehensive Attention Test, Korean-Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children-Fourth Edition, and Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) Rating Scale-IV scores in children and adolescents with ADHD. Methods: Fifty-five children and adolescents diagnosed with ADHD and not taking psychiatric medications were included in this retrospective study. A correlation analysis was performed. Results: Although simple visual and auditory selective attention have diagnostic value in traditional continuous performance tests, this study revealed that inhibition-sustained attention and interference-selective attention are also effective in evaluating ADHD. Furthermore, the correlation between the attention and intelligence test scores varied depending on the use of visual or auditory stimuli. Conclusion: The findings of this study contribute to clarifying our understanding of the cognitive characteristics of children and adolescents with ADHD and can be used in future research.

Bootstrap Exploratory Graph Analysis of the WISC-V with a Clinical Sample.

One important aspect of construct validity is structural validity. Structural validity refers to the degree to which scores of a psychological test are a reflection of the dimensionality of the construct being measured. A factor analysis, which assumes that unobserved latent variables are responsible for the covariation among observed test scores, has traditionally been employed to provide structural validity evidence. Factor analytic studies have variously suggested either four or five dimensions for the WISC-V and it is unlikely that any new factor analytic study will resolve this dimensional dilemma. Unlike a factor analysis, an exploratory graph analysis (EGA) does not assume a common latent cause of covariances between test scores. Rather, an EGA identifies dimensions by locating strongly connected sets of scores that form coherent sub-networks within the overall network. Accordingly, the present study employed a bootstrap EGA technique to investigate the structure of the 10 WISC-V primary subtests using a large clinical sample (N = 7149) with a mean age of 10.7 years and a standard deviation of 2.8 years. The resulting structure was composed of four sub-networks that paralleled the first-order factor structure reported in many studies where the fluid reasoning and visual-spatial dimensions merged into a single dimension. These results suggest that discrepant construct and scoring structures exist for the WISC-V that potentially raise serious concerns about the test interpretations of psychologists who employ the test structure preferred by the publisher.

WISC-IV intellectual profiles in Italian children with self-limited epilepsy with centrotemporal spikes.

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to describe the intellectual profile based on the Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children 4th edition (WISC-IV) in children with self-limited epilepsy with centrotemporal spikes (SeLECTS), with an attempt to define possible predictive epilepsy-related variables of cognitive performance. METHODS: The WISC-IV was assessed in 161 children with SeLECTS and their cognitive profiles were compared to a matched sample of healthy control children. RESULTS: Children with SeLECTS performed within normal range across all indices, demonstrating particular strength based on the Perceptual Reasoning Index. Compared to healthy control children, we observed a significant difference in performance based on the Full Scale Intelligence Quotient, Verbal Comprehension Index and Processing Speed Index. Regarding epilepsy-related variables, earlier onset of epilepsy, use of anti-seizure medications, the presence of neurodevelopmental disorders, a higher frequency of seizures, and a longer treatment duration were associated with an overall lower level of performance. SIGNIFICANCE: Children with SeLECTS performed within the average range for cognitive assessment based on the WISC-IV, demonstrating that children had normal levels of global intelligence. However, compared to healthy control children, children with SeLECTS showed a slightly lower level of performance. Reasoning skills represented the relative strengths in children with SeLECTS. Predictors of intellectual performance in patients with SeLECTS include epilepsy-related variables and neurodevelopmental comorbidities.

Timing of Ketogenic Dietary Therapy (KDT) Introduction and Its Impact on Cognitive Profiles in Children with Glut1-DS-A Preliminary Study.

The aim of this research was to characterize cognitive abilities in patients with Glut1-Deficiency syndrome (Glut1DS) following ketogenic diet therapy (KDT). METHODS: The cognitive profiles of eight children were assessed using the Wechsler Intelligence Scale (WISC-IV). The effect of ketogenic diet therapy (KDT) on individual subareas of intelligence was analyzed considering the potential influence of speech motor impairments. RESULTS: Patients with Glut1DS showed a wide range of cognitive performance levels. Some participants showed statistically and clinically significant discrepancies between individual subdomains of intelligence. Both variables, KDT initiation as well as duration, had a positive effect on the overall IQ score. Significant correlations were partially found between the time of KDT initiation and the level of IQ scores, depending on the presence of expressive language test demands of the respective subtests of the WISC-IV. Accordingly, the participants benefited les in the linguistic cognitive domain. The discrepancies in cognitive performance profiles of patients with Glut1DS can be attributed to the possibility of a negative distortion of the results due to the influence of speech motor impairments. CONCLUSIONS: The individual access skills of test persons should be more strongly considered in test procedures for the assessment of intelligence to reduce the negative influence of motor deficits on test performance. Specific characterization and systematization of the speech disorder are indispensable for determining the severity of speech motor impairment in Glut1DS. Therefore, a stronger focus on dysarthria during diagnosis and therapy is necessary.

Evaluación del desempeño cognitivo en escolares y adolescentes con diabetes mellitus tipo 1 / Evaluation of cognitive performance in children and adolescents with type 1 diabetes mellitus

Resumen El objetivo del trabajo fue evaluar el funcionamiento cognitivo de niños y adolescentes con diabetes mellitus tipo 1 (DM1) de la consulta de Endocrinología del IAHULA, y compararlo al de niños no diabéticos, así como investigar la posible influencia de factores relacionados con la enfermedad sobre la cognición. Se realizó un estudio observacional analítico, transversal, que incluyó un grupo de 30 pacientes con DM1 de 8 a 16 años de edad (16 varones) y un grupo control de 30 individuos pareados por edad, género, escolaridad y condición socioeconómica. Se realizó interrogatorio y revisión de historias clínicas para obtener datos sobre las características clínicas y el tratamiento de la DM1. Se les aplicó el test WISC IV para evaluar cognición y cociente intelectual (CI). La edad promedio de los pacientes fue de 13,27 ± 2,31 años, la mitad de ellos masculinos. Se encontraron puntajes menores en los distintos dominios del WISC IV en el grupo con DM1 al compararlos con los del grupo control (p<0,01). El CI fue menor en los niños con DM1 que en los controles (75,47 ± 13,87 frente a 88,57±11,06; p=0,0001); así mismo, se observó con mayor frecuencia un puntaje del CI inferior al percentil 10 en los pacientes con DM1 en comparación con los controles (63,3% frente a 33,3%; p=0,02; Odds ratio: 3,45; IC95%: 1,19-9,99). Se concluyó que la DM1 impacta negativamente el desempeño cognitivo de niños y adolescentes. Se recomienda la evaluación cognitiva de estos pacientes, ya que podría repercutir en su vida diaria.

Abstract The study aimed to evaluate the cognitive functioning of children and adolescents with type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM) recruited from the IAHULA Endocrinology Outpatient Unit and to compare it to that of non-diabetics as to investigate the influence on cognition of factors related to the disease. An analytical, cross-sectional observational study was carried out on a group of 30 patients with T1DM between 8 and 16 years of age and on a control group of 30 individuals matched by age, gender, education, and socioeconomic status. Interrogation and review of medical records to obtain data on the clinical characteristics and treatment of T1DM were conducted. The WISC IV test was then applied to evaluate cognition and intellectual coefficient (IQ). The average age of the diabetic patients was 13.27±2.31 years, and half of them were male. Lower scores were found in the different domains of the WISC IV in the group with T1DM (p<0.01). The IQ was found to be lower in children with T1DM than in controls (75.47±13.87 vs. 88.57±11.06; p=0.0001). Likewise, a higher frequency of IQ scores below the 10th percentile was observed in the diabetic children (63.3% vs. 33.3%; p=0.02; Odds ratio: 3.45; 95%CI: 1.19-9.99). It was concluded that T1DM negatively impacts the cognitive performance of children and adolescents. Cognitive evaluation of these patients is recommended, as it could affect their daily life.

Is WISC-IV Working Memory Index associated with ADHD symptoms in 7-8-year-olds?

The Working Memory Index (WMI) in the Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children (WISC) has been suggested to be associated with ADHD symptoms. The relationship between WMI and ADHD symptoms in the general population is not clear. The study aimed to examine the association between working memory (WM) and behavioral regulation (BR), and hyperactivity/inattention (HI) in a general population sample of 7-8-year-olds, and whether general intellectual functioning is associated with BR and HI. The study also examined if those with low WMI also fulfill elevated ADHD criteria. The study group (N = 865) was assessed with the WISC (Fourth edition), the Behavior Rating Inventory of Executive Function, the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire, and the Five to Fifteen Questionnaire, and divided into three groups based on WM function, and in relation to BR and/or HI problems. The associations between WM and BR, and WM and HI, including intellectual functioning as covariate, were examined. WM deficits were found in 22%, but the majority of those had no BR or HI problems. Four percent in the study group had WM deficits combined with BR and/or HI problems, and in about one third of those inattentive ADHD criteria were fulfilled. WM and prosocial behavior were associated with BR and HI. WM deficits measured with WISC WMI in 7-8-year-olds do not always signal BR and/or HI problems.

Comparison of WPPSI-IV and WISC-V cognitive profiles in 6-7-year-old Finland-Swedish children - findings from the FinSwed study.

The Wechsler scales are among the most widely used tests in cognitive and neuropsychological assessments. When assessing children aged 6:0-7:7 years the clinician can choose between Wechsler Preschool and Primary Scale of Intelligence - Fourth Edition (WPPSI-IV) and Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children - Fifth Edition (WISC-V). Information about how the tests function and differ in this overlapping age range is limited. Using a between-subjects design, the present study compared the cognitive profiles of typically developing Swedish-speaking children in Finland in this overlapping age range (6:1 - 7:2 years), assessed with the Swedish versions of either WPPSI-IV (n = 38) or WISC-V (n = 24). Profile analyses and one-way ANCOVA were performed to investigate differences in the comparable subtests, indexes and Full Scale IQ. On the subtest level, children assessed with WISC-V had significantly lower scores on the subtests Vocabulary, Matrix Reasoning, and Bug/Symbol Search compared to children assessed with WPPSI-IV. On the index level, scores for the Verbal Comprehension Index and the Fluid Reasoning Index were significantly lower for children assessed with WISC-V. The Full Scale IQ was significantly lower on WISC-V. Taken together, the findings indicate that WPPSI-IV and WISC-V produce partly different cognitive profiles. These differences are important to recognize when choosing which test to use and when interpreting the results of clinical assessments of children in this age group.