Verbal Memory Deficits in Children with Less than 750 g Birth Weight

Abstract

Numerous studies have documented memory deficits in very low birthweight (VLBW, < 1500 g) children, yet we know little about the nature of these memory problems. To clarify memory sequelae and examine memory deficits in relation to the degree of low birth weight, we administered the California Verbal Learning Test-Children's Version (CVLT-C) to a regional sample of 57 < 750 g birthweight children and to groups of 53 750-1499 g birthweight children and 49 term-born controls. Group comparisons revealed significant differences between the < 750 g birthweight group and term-born children on measures of list learning, delayed recall, and inaccurate recall. In addition, the percentage improvement in correct recognitions relative to long-term delayed recall was greater in the < 750 g group than in the term-born controls. Similar differences were observed between VLBW children with and without abnormal neonatal cerebral ultrasounds (high- and low-risk groups). Differences in learning rate between the VLBW and term-born groups, and between high- and low-risk VLBW children, were evident even when vocabulary skill was covaried or when children with neurosensory deficits or IQ < 80 were excluded from analysis. The findings document deficits in verbal memory in the subset of VLBW children at greatest biological risk, and suggest that acquisition processes are selectively impaired.

Executive and Memory Function in Adolescents Born Very Preterm

“…Nosarti et al 15 have documented persisting executive dysfunction in areas such as verbal fluency, response initiation and inhibition, and cognitive flexibility in young adults. In our study there also is evidence for deficits in verbal and visuospatial memory in adolescents born preterm compared with term controls, which corroborates the work of Taylor et al 3,22 The global deficits in executive and memory function observed in adolescent born preterm are congruent with neuroimaging findings reported in this population. The neural circuitry that connects the prefrontal cortex to other areas of the brain, notably the posterior cortical and subcortical regions, is thought to be central in ensuring normal executive processes.…”

“…20,21 Moreover, memory deficits, including verbal and visual memory, have been reported in very low birth weight children, especially among those with neonatal cerebral injury, which suggests the residual sequelae of brain insults on memory function. 3 , 22 However, few studies have expanded on this important finding.…”

Free Thyroxine Levels After Very Preterm Birth and Neurodevelopmental Outcomes at Age 7 Years

“…Lost to follow-up analyses used t tests or Mann-Whitney U (continuous data) and x 2 (categorical data). Regression models were employed by using AUC for fT 4 as the main predictor of outcome with models fitted in 2 ways: (1) cord to day 14 levels (14-day AUC), and (2) cord to day 42 (42-day AUC). Cognitive models were fitted controlling for GA, sex, social risk, duration of IPPV, and global neonatal brain abnormality score.…”

“…Free T 4 was measured directly by competitive analog immunoassay using a chemiluminescent substrate on the Immulite 2000 (Siemens AG, Healthcare Sector, Erlangen, Federal Republic of Germany). The level of fT 4 was interpolated from a stored standard curve calibrated for fT 4 concentrations. 25 The intra-and inter-assay coefficients of variation were acceptable (intra-assay = 5.1%; inter-assay range = 7.5% to 5.7%).…”

“…Very preterm (VPT; ,32 weeks' gestation) children are at increased risk for a range of neuropsychological deficits, including impairments in general intellect, 1 language, 2 visuoperceptual reasoning, 3 learning and memory, 4,5 attention, 6 and executive functioning. 7 Furthermore, neuroimaging studies of preterm infants and children have reported volumetric reductions in gray and white matter tissue, 8 as well as specific brain regions (cerebellum, basal ganglia, amygdala, hippocampi, and corpus callosum).…”