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Goodrich AJ, Kleeman MJ, Tancredi DJ, Ludeña YJ, Bennett DH, Hertz-Picciotto I, Schmidt RJ. Pre-pregnancy ozone and ultrafine particulate matter exposure during second year of life associated with decreased cognitive and adaptive functioning at aged 2-5 years. ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 2024; 252:118854. [PMID: 38574983 DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2024.118854] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/10/2023] [Revised: 03/17/2024] [Accepted: 03/31/2024] [Indexed: 04/06/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND This study sought to investigate the association of prenatal and early life exposure to a mixture of air pollutants on cognitive and adaptive outcomes separately in children with or without autism spectrum disorder (ASD). METHODS Utilizing data from the CHARGE case-control study (birth years: 2000-2016), we predicted daily air concentrations of NO2, O3, and particulate matter <0.1 μm (PM0.1), between 0.1 and 2.5 μm (PM0.1-2.5), and between 2.5 and 10 μm (PM2.5-10) using chemical transport models with ground-based monitor adjustments. Exposures were evaluated for pre-pregnancy, each trimester, and the first two years of life. Individual and combined effects of pollutants were assessed with Vineland Adaptive Behavior Scales (VABS) and Mullen Scales of Early Learning (MSEL), separately for children with ASD (n = 660) and children without ASD (typically developing (TD) and developmentally delayed (DD) combined; n = 753) using hierarchical Bayesian Kernel Machine Regression (BKMR) models with three groups: PM size fractions (PM0.1, PM0.1-2.5, PM2.5-10), NO2, and O3. RESULTS Pre-pregnancy Ozone was strongly negatively associated with all scores in the non-ASD group (group posterior inclusion probability (gPIP) = 0.83-1.00). The PM group during year 2 was also strongly negatively associated with all scores in the non-ASD group (gPIP = 0.59-0.93), with PM0.1 driving the group association (conditional PIP (cPIP) = 0.73-0.96). Weaker and less consistent associations were observed between PM0.1-2.5 during pre-pregnancy and ozone during year 1 and VABS scores in the ASD group. CONCLUSIONS These findings prompt further investigation into ozone and ultrafine PM as potential environmental risk factors for neurodevelopment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amanda J Goodrich
- Department of Public Health Sciences, School of Medicine, University of California Davis, 128 Medical Sciences 1C, One Shields Ave, Sacramento, CA, USA.
| | - Michael J Kleeman
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of California Davis, Sacramento, CA, USA
| | - Daniel J Tancredi
- Department of Pediatrics, University of California Davis, Sacramento, CA, USA
| | - Yunin J Ludeña
- Department of Public Health Sciences, School of Medicine, University of California Davis, 128 Medical Sciences 1C, One Shields Ave, Sacramento, CA, USA; Medical Investigation of Neurodevelopmental Disorders (MIND) Institute, University of California Davis, Sacramento, CA, USA
| | - Deborah H Bennett
- Department of Public Health Sciences, School of Medicine, University of California Davis, 128 Medical Sciences 1C, One Shields Ave, Sacramento, CA, USA
| | - Irva Hertz-Picciotto
- Department of Public Health Sciences, School of Medicine, University of California Davis, 128 Medical Sciences 1C, One Shields Ave, Sacramento, CA, USA; Medical Investigation of Neurodevelopmental Disorders (MIND) Institute, University of California Davis, Sacramento, CA, USA
| | - Rebecca J Schmidt
- Department of Public Health Sciences, School of Medicine, University of California Davis, 128 Medical Sciences 1C, One Shields Ave, Sacramento, CA, USA; Medical Investigation of Neurodevelopmental Disorders (MIND) Institute, University of California Davis, Sacramento, CA, USA
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Macrae E, Milosavljevic B, Katus L, Mason L, Amadó MP, Rozhko M, de Haan M, Elwell CE, Moore SE, Lloyd-Fox S. Cognitive control in infancy: Attentional predictors using a tablet-based measure. INFANCY 2024; 29:631-655. [PMID: 38768285 DOI: 10.1111/infa.12599] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/13/2023] [Revised: 11/28/2023] [Accepted: 04/26/2024] [Indexed: 05/22/2024]
Abstract
Cognitive control is a predictor of later-life outcomes and may underpin higher order executive processes. The present study examines the development of early cognitive control during the first 24-month. We evaluated a tablet-based assessment of cognitive control among infants aged 18- and 24-month. We also examined concurrent and longitudinal associations between attentional disengagement, general cognitive skills and cognitive control. Participants (N = 60, 30 female) completed the tablet-task at 18- and 24-month of age. Attentional disengagement and general cognitive development were assessed at 5-, 8-, 12-, 18- and 24-month using an eye-tracking measure and the Mullen Scales of Early Learning (MSEL), respectively. The cognitive control task demonstrated good internal consistency, sensitivity to age-related change in performance and stable individual differences. No associations were found between infant cognitive control and MSEL scores longitudinally or concurrently. The eye-tracking task revealed that slower attentional disengagement at 8-month, but faster disengagement at 18-month, predicted higher cognitive control scores at 24-month. This task may represent a useful tool for measuring emergent cognitive control. The multifaceted relationship between attention and infant cognitive control suggests that the rapid development of the attentional system in infancy results in distinct attentional skills, at different ages, being relevant for cognitive control development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emma Macrae
- Department of Psychology, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | - Bosiljka Milosavljevic
- Department of Psychology, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
- Department of Biological and Experimental Psychology, Queen Mary University of London, London, UK
| | - Laura Katus
- Institute for Lifecourse Development, University of Greenwich, London, UK
| | - Luke Mason
- Department of Forensic and Neurodevelopmental Sciences, King's College London, London, UK
| | | | - Maria Rozhko
- Department of Psychology, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | - Michelle de Haan
- Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health, University College London, London, UK
- Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children NHS Foundation Trust London, London, UK
| | - Clare E Elwell
- Department of Medical Physics and Biomedical Engineering, University College London, London, UK
| | - Sophie E Moore
- Department of Women and Children's Health, King's College London, London, UK
- MRC Unit The Gambia at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, Keneba, The Gambia
| | - Sarah Lloyd-Fox
- Department of Psychology, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
- Centre for Brain and Cognitive Development, Birkbeck, University of London, London, UK
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3
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Anbar J, Matthews N, James S, Ariff A, Pierce K, Smith CJ. Examination of Clinical and Assessment Type Differences Between Toddlers with ASD from Multiplex and Simplex Families. J Autism Dev Disord 2024; 54:2170-2182. [PMID: 37036578 DOI: 10.1007/s10803-022-05890-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 12/26/2022] [Indexed: 04/11/2023]
Abstract
Few studies have examined differences in autism spectrum disorder (ASD) phenotype between children from multiplex and simplex families at the time of diagnosis. The present study used an age- and gender-matched, community-based sample (n = 105) from the southwestern United States to examine differences in ASD symptom severity, cognitive development, and adaptive functioning. No significant differences between children from multiplex and simplex families were observed. Exploratory analysis revealed that parents underreported receptive and expressive language and fine motor skills compared to professional observation, especially among children from multiplex families. These findings suggest that diagnosticians may need to consider family structure when choosing and interpreting assessments of receptive language, expressive language, and fine motor skills.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joshua Anbar
- Southwest Autism Research & Resource Center, 2225 N 16th Street, Phoenix, AZ, 85006, USA
| | - Nicole Matthews
- Southwest Autism Research & Resource Center, 2225 N 16th Street, Phoenix, AZ, 85006, USA.
| | - Stephen James
- Southwest Autism Research & Resource Center, 2225 N 16th Street, Phoenix, AZ, 85006, USA
| | - Afzal Ariff
- Southwest Autism Research & Resource Center, 2225 N 16th Street, Phoenix, AZ, 85006, USA
| | - Karen Pierce
- Department of Neurosciences, University of California, San Diego, San Diego, CA, USA
| | - Christopher J Smith
- Southwest Autism Research & Resource Center, 2225 N 16th Street, Phoenix, AZ, 85006, USA
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4
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Mullin LJ, Rutsohn J, Gross JL, Caravella KE, Grzadzinski RL, Weisenfeld LA, Flake L, Botteron KN, Dager SR, Estes AM, Pandey J, Schultz RT, St John T, Wolff JJ, Shen MD, Piven J, Hazlett HC, Girault JB. Differential cognitive and behavioral development from 6 to 24 months in autism and fragile X syndrome. J Neurodev Disord 2024; 16:12. [PMID: 38509470 PMCID: PMC10953146 DOI: 10.1186/s11689-024-09519-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/15/2023] [Accepted: 02/14/2024] [Indexed: 03/22/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Specifying early developmental differences among neurodevelopmental disorders with distinct etiologies is critical to improving early identification and tailored intervention during the first years of life. Recent studies have uncovered important differences between infants with fragile X syndrome (FXS) and infants with familial history of autism spectrum disorder who go on to develop autism themselves (FH-ASD), including differences in brain development and behavior. Thus far, there have been no studies longitudinally investigating differential developmental skill profiles in FXS and FH-ASD infants. METHODS The current study contrasted longitudinal trajectories of verbal (expressive and receptive language) and nonverbal (gross and fine motor, visual reception) skills in FXS and FH-ASD infants, compared to FH infants who did not develop ASD (FH-nonASD) and typically developing controls. RESULTS Infants with FXS showed delays on a nonverbal composite compared to FH-ASD (as well as FH-nonASD and control) infants as early as 6 months of age. By 12 months an ordinal pattern of scores was established between groups on all domains tested, such that controls > FH-nonASD > FH-ASD > FXS. This pattern persisted through 24 months. Cognitive level differentially influenced developmental trajectories for FXS and FH-ASD. CONCLUSIONS Our results demonstrate detectable group differences by 6 months between FXS and FH-ASD as well as differential trajectories on each domain throughout infancy. This work further highlights an earlier onset of global cognitive delays in FXS and, conversely, a protracted period of more slowly emerging delays in FH-ASD. Divergent neural and cognitive development in infancy between FXS and FH-ASD contributes to our understanding of important distinctions in the development and behavioral phenotype of these two groups.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lindsay J Mullin
- Carolina Institute for Developmental Disabilities, the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, USA.
| | - Joshua Rutsohn
- Department of Biostatistics, the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, USA
| | - Julia L Gross
- Carolina Institute for Developmental Disabilities, the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, USA
| | - Kelly E Caravella
- Carolina Institute for Developmental Disabilities, the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, USA
| | - Rebecca L Grzadzinski
- Carolina Institute for Developmental Disabilities, the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, USA
- Department of Psychiatry, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, USA
| | - Leigh Anne Weisenfeld
- Carolina Institute for Developmental Disabilities, the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, USA
| | - Lisa Flake
- Department of Psychiatry, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, USA
| | - Kelly N Botteron
- Department of Psychiatry, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, USA
| | - Stephen R Dager
- Department of Radiology, University of Washington, Seattle, USA
- Center On Human Development and Disability, University of Washington, Seattle, USA
| | - Annette M Estes
- Center On Human Development and Disability, University of Washington, Seattle, USA
- Department of Speech and Hearing Sciences, University of Washington, Seattle, USA
| | - Juhi Pandey
- The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia and University of Pennsylvania, Center for Autism Research, Philadelphia, USA
| | - Robert T Schultz
- The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia and University of Pennsylvania, Center for Autism Research, Philadelphia, USA
| | - Tanya St John
- Center On Human Development and Disability, University of Washington, Seattle, USA
- Department of Speech and Hearing Sciences, University of Washington, Seattle, USA
| | - Jason J Wolff
- Department of Educational Psychology, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, USA
| | - Mark D Shen
- Carolina Institute for Developmental Disabilities, the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, USA
- Department of Psychiatry, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, USA
- Neuroscience Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, USA
| | - Joseph Piven
- Carolina Institute for Developmental Disabilities, the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, USA
| | - Heather C Hazlett
- Carolina Institute for Developmental Disabilities, the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, USA
| | - Jessica B Girault
- Carolina Institute for Developmental Disabilities, the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, USA
- Department of Psychiatry, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, USA
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McFayden TC, Rutsohn J, Cetin G, Forsen E, Swanson MR, Meera SS, Wolff JJ, Elison JT, Shen MD, Botteron K, Dager SR, Estes A, Gerig G, McKinstry RC, Pandey J, Schultz R, St John T, Styner M, Truong Y, Zwaigenbaum L, Hazlett HC, Piven J, Girault JB. White matter development and language abilities during infancy in autism spectrum disorder. Mol Psychiatry 2024:10.1038/s41380-024-02470-3. [PMID: 38383768 DOI: 10.1038/s41380-024-02470-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/20/2023] [Revised: 01/24/2024] [Accepted: 01/30/2024] [Indexed: 02/23/2024]
Abstract
White matter (WM) fiber tract differences are present in autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and could be important markers of behavior. One of the earliest phenotypic differences in ASD are language atypicalities. Although language has been linked to WM in typical development, no work has evaluated this association in early ASD. Participants came from the Infant Brain Imaging Study and included 321 infant siblings of children with ASD at high likelihood (HL) for developing ASD; 70 HL infants were later diagnosed with ASD (HL-ASD), and 251 HL infants were not diagnosed with ASD (HL-Neg). A control sample of 140 low likelihood infants not diagnosed with ASD (LL-Neg) were also included. Infants contributed expressive language, receptive language, and diffusion tensor imaging data at 6-, 12-, and 24 months. Mixed effects regression models were conducted to evaluate associations between WM and language trajectories. Trajectories of microstructural changes in the right arcuate fasciculus were associated with expressive language development. HL-ASD infants demonstrated a different developmental pattern compared to the HL-Neg and LL-Neg groups, wherein the HL-ASD group exhibited a positive association between WM fractional anisotropy and language whereas HL-Neg and LL-Neg groups showed weak or no association. No other fiber tracts demonstrated significant associations with language. In conclusion, results indicated arcuate fasciculus WM is linked to language in early toddlerhood for autistic toddlers, with the strongest associations emerging around 24 months. To our knowledge, this is the first study to evaluate associations between language and WM development during the pre-symptomatic period in ASD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tyler C McFayden
- Carolina Institute for Developmental Disabilities, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Carrboro, NC, USA.
| | - Joshua Rutsohn
- Department of Biostatistics, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
| | - Gizem Cetin
- Carolina Institute for Developmental Disabilities, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Carrboro, NC, USA
| | - Elizabeth Forsen
- Department of Psychiatry, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, USA
| | - Meghan R Swanson
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA
| | - Shoba S Meera
- Department of Speech Pathology and Audiology, National Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences (NIMHANS), Bangalore, India
| | - Jason J Wolff
- Department of Educational Psychology, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA
| | - Jed T Elison
- Institute of Child Development, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA
| | - Mark D Shen
- Carolina Institute for Developmental Disabilities, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Carrboro, NC, USA
| | - Kelly Botteron
- Department of Psychiatry, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, USA
| | - Stephen R Dager
- Department of Radiology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
- Institute on Human Development and Disability, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Annette Estes
- Institute on Human Development and Disability, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
- Department of Speech and Hearing Sciences, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Guido Gerig
- Tandon School of Engineering, New York University, New York, NY, USA
| | - Robert C McKinstry
- Mallinckrodt Institute of Radiology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, USA
| | - Juhi Pandey
- Center for Autism Research, The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia and University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Robert Schultz
- Center for Autism Research, The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia and University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Tanya St John
- Institute on Human Development and Disability, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
- Department of Speech and Hearing Sciences, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Martin Styner
- Department of Psychiatry, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
| | - Young Truong
- Department of Biostatistics, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
| | | | - Heather C Hazlett
- Carolina Institute for Developmental Disabilities, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Carrboro, NC, USA
| | - Joseph Piven
- Carolina Institute for Developmental Disabilities, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Carrboro, NC, USA
| | - Jessica B Girault
- Carolina Institute for Developmental Disabilities, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Carrboro, NC, USA
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Fenske SJ, Liu J, Chen H, Diniz MA, Stephens RL, Cornea E, Gilmore JH, Gao W. Sex differences in brain-behavior relationships in the first two years of life. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2024.01.31.578147. [PMID: 38352542 PMCID: PMC10862872 DOI: 10.1101/2024.01.31.578147] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/24/2024]
Abstract
Background Evidence for sex differences in cognition in childhood is established, but less is known about the underlying neural mechanisms for these differences. Recent findings suggest the existence of brain-behavior relationship heterogeneities during infancy; however, it remains unclear whether sex underlies these heterogeneities during this critical period when sex-related behavioral differences arise. Methods A sample of 316 infants was included with resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging scans at neonate (3 weeks), 1, and 2 years of age. We used multiple linear regression to test interactions between sex and resting-state functional connectivity on behavioral scores of working memory, inhibitory self-control, intelligence, and anxiety collected at 4 years of age. Results We found six age-specific, intra-hemispheric connections showing significant and robust sex differences in functional connectivity-behavior relationships. All connections are either with the prefrontal cortex or the temporal pole, which has direct anatomical pathways to the prefrontal cortex. Sex differences in functional connectivity only emerge when associated with behavior, and not in functional connectivity alone. Furthermore, at neonate and 2 years of age, these age-specific connections displayed greater connectivity in males and lower connectivity in females in association with better behavioral scores. Conclusions Taken together, we critically capture robust and conserved brain mechanisms that are distinct to sex and are defined by their relationship to behavioral outcomes. Our results establish brain-behavior mechanisms as an important feature in the search for sex differences during development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sonja J Fenske
- Biomedical Imaging Research Institute, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA 90048
- Department of Biomedical Sciences and Imaging, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA 90048
| | - Janelle Liu
- Biomedical Imaging Research Institute, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA 90048
- Department of Biomedical Sciences and Imaging, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA 90048
| | - Haitao Chen
- Biomedical Imaging Research Institute, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA 90048
- Department of Biomedical Sciences and Imaging, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA 90048
- David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, CA 90025
| | - Marcio A Diniz
- The Biostatistics and Bioinformatics Research Center, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA 90048
| | - Rebecca L Stephens
- Department of Psychiatry, University of North Carolina Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, 27599
| | - Emil Cornea
- Department of Psychiatry, University of North Carolina Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, 27599
| | - John H Gilmore
- Department of Psychiatry, University of North Carolina Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, 27599
| | - Wei Gao
- Biomedical Imaging Research Institute, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA 90048
- Department of Biomedical Sciences and Imaging, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA 90048
- David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, CA 90025
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7
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Bruce M, Ermanni B, Bell MA. The longitudinal contributions of child language, negative emotionality, and maternal positive affect on toddler executive functioning development. Infant Behav Dev 2023; 72:101847. [PMID: 37300924 PMCID: PMC10527090 DOI: 10.1016/j.infbeh.2023.101847] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/30/2022] [Revised: 05/10/2023] [Accepted: 06/02/2023] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Executive functions (EF) develop rapidly across early childhood and play a prominent role in promoting adaptive outcomes later in development. Although the existing literature suggests that the development of early EF is sensitive to the influence of intrinsic and extrinsic factors, limited research has examined the joint contributions of multiple child and contextual factors in infancy/toddlerhood. The purpose of our longitudinal study was therefore to identify early environmental, behavioral, biologically-based factors that influence children's EF outcomes in late toddlerhood. Participants included 409 mother-child dyads (209 girls) and the data was collected across children's first three postnatal years. Parent-report measures were used to assess infant negative affectivity (5-months; IBQ-R) and toddler language (age 2; MCDI), and both maternal positive affect (5-months) and toddler frustration (age 2) were coded during mother-child interaction tasks. A battery of behavioral tasks was used to measure child EF in late toddlerhood (age 3). After controlling for maternal education (a proxy for children's socio-economic environment), path analysis indicated that both infant and maternal affect at 5-months directly predicted toddlers' language skills and frustration expression at age 2. Toddler language (but not frustration) also predicted child performance on multiple EF tasks at age 3. Finally, 5-month infant and maternal affect indirectly predicted age 3 EF via age 2 language. Our results identify language as a mechanism through which children's early caregiving environment influences their EF development. Taken together, these findings illustrate the importance of applying a biopsychosocial perspective to the examination of early childhood EF development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Madeleine Bruce
- Department of Psychology, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA, USA.
| | - Briana Ermanni
- Department of Psychology, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA, USA
| | - Martha Ann Bell
- Department of Psychology, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA, USA
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Estrada KA, Govindaraj S, Abdi H, Moraglia LE, Wolff JJ, Meera SS, Dager SR, McKinstry RC, Styner MA, Zwaigenbaum L, Piven J, Swanson MR. Language exposure during infancy is negatively associated with white matter microstructure in the arcuate fasciculus. Dev Cogn Neurosci 2023; 61:101240. [PMID: 37060675 PMCID: PMC10130606 DOI: 10.1016/j.dcn.2023.101240] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/30/2022] [Revised: 04/04/2023] [Accepted: 04/04/2023] [Indexed: 04/17/2023] Open
Abstract
Decades of research have established that the home language environment, especially quality of caregiver speech, supports language acquisition during infancy. However, the neural mechanisms behind this phenomenon remain under studied. In the current study, we examined associations between the home language environment and structural coherence of white matter tracts in 52 typically developing infants from English speaking homes in a western society. Infants participated in at least one MRI brain scan when they were 3, 6, 12, and/or 24 months old. Home language recordings were collected when infants were 9 and/or 15 months old. General linear regression models indicated that infants who heard the most adult words and participated in the most conversational turns at 9 months of age also had the lowest fractional anisotropy in the left posterior parieto-temporal arcuate fasciculus at 24 months. Similarly, infants who vocalized the most at 9 months also had the lowest fractional anisotropy in the same tract at 6 months of age. This is one of the first studies to report significant associations between caregiver speech collected in the home and white matter structural coherence in the infant brain. The results are in line with prior work showing that protracted white matter development during infancy confers a cognitive advantage.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katiana A Estrada
- Department of Psychological Sciences, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN 47906, USA; Department of Psychology, The University of Texas at Dallas, Richardson, TX 75080, USA
| | - Sharnya Govindaraj
- Department of Psychology, The University of Texas at Dallas, Richardson, TX 75080, USA
| | - Hervé Abdi
- Department of Psychology, The University of Texas at Dallas, Richardson, TX 75080, USA
| | - Luke E Moraglia
- Department of Psychology, The University of Texas at Dallas, Richardson, TX 75080, USA
| | - Jason J Wolff
- Department of Educational Psychology, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA
| | - Shoba Sreenath Meera
- Department of Speech Pathology and Audiology, National Institute of Mental Health and Neuro-Sciences (NIMHANS), Bangalore, India
| | - Stephen R Dager
- Department of Radiology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195, USA
| | - Robert C McKinstry
- Mallinckrodt Institute of Radiology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO 63130, USA
| | - Martin A Styner
- Department of Psychiatry, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
| | - Lonnie Zwaigenbaum
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Alberta, Edmonton AB T6G 2R3, Canada
| | - Joseph Piven
- Department of Psychiatry, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
| | - Meghan R Swanson
- Department of Psychology, The University of Texas at Dallas, Richardson, TX 75080, USA.
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9
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Fenske SJ, Liu J, Chen H, Diniz MA, Stephens RL, Cornea E, Gilmore JH, Gao W. Sex differences in resting state functional connectivity across the first two years of life. Dev Cogn Neurosci 2023; 60:101235. [PMID: 36966646 PMCID: PMC10066534 DOI: 10.1016/j.dcn.2023.101235] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/05/2022] [Revised: 02/17/2023] [Accepted: 03/19/2023] [Indexed: 03/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Sex differences in behavior have been reported from infancy through adulthood, but little is known about sex effects on functional circuitry in early infancy. Moreover, the relationship between early sex effects on the functional architecture of the brain and later behavioral performance remains to be elucidated. In this study, we used resting-state fMRI and a novel heatmap analysis to examine sex differences in functional connectivity with cross-sectional and longitudinal mixed models in a large cohort of infants (n = 319 neonates, 1-, and 2-year-olds). An adult dataset (n = 92) was also included for comparison. We investigated the relationship between sex differences in functional circuitry and later measures of language (collected in 1- and 2-year-olds) as well as indices of anxiety, executive function, and intelligence (collected in 4-year-olds). Brain areas showing the most significant sex differences were age-specific across infancy, with two temporal regions demonstrating consistent differences. Measures of functional connectivity showing sex differences in infancy were significantly associated with subsequent behavioral scores of language, executive function, and intelligence. Our findings provide insights into the effects of sex on dynamic neurodevelopmental trajectories during infancy and lay an important foundation for understanding the mechanisms underlying sex differences in health and disease.
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10
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Zacharov O, Huster RJ, Kaale A. Working memory in pre-school children with autism spectrum disorder: An eye-tracking study. Front Psychol 2022; 13:922291. [PMID: 36275262 PMCID: PMC9586183 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2022.922291] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/17/2022] [Accepted: 09/20/2022] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Working memory (WM) was examined in pre-school children with Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and children with typical development using eye-tracking technology. The children were presented with a digital A-not-B task (with a short and a long waiting condition) where they passively viewed animations of a moving train. Moreover, the current study investigated the relationship between non-verbal mental age (NVMA) and the performance on the task. No group differences were found in the average looking durations between the ASD and typically developing (TD) groups on either the short or long waiting conditions. Although the NVMA of the ASD group was lower than that of the TD group there were no correlations between NVMA and task performance in either group. The results suggest that WM in young children with ASD might not be different from that of TD children. However, the results might be due to ceiling effects of the task and thus needs to be further investigated.
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Affiliation(s)
- Oleg Zacharov
- Department of Special Needs Education, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway
- *Correspondence: Oleg Zacharov,
| | | | - Anett Kaale
- Department of Special Needs Education, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway
- Norwegian Centre of Expertise for Neurodevelopmental Disorders and Hypersomnias, Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway
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11
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Structural Equation Modeling of Common Cognitive Abilities in Preschool-Aged Children Using WPPSI-IV and BRIEF-P. CHILDREN 2022; 9:children9071089. [PMID: 35884075 PMCID: PMC9323403 DOI: 10.3390/children9071089] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/28/2022] [Revised: 06/04/2022] [Accepted: 07/18/2022] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
Various studies have addressed the relationship between intelligence and executive functions (EF). There is widespread agreement that EF in preschool children is a unitary construct in which the subordinate factors of Updating, Inhibition, and Shifting are still undifferentiated and correlate moderately with a general factor of intelligence (g). The aim of this study is to investigate the common structural relationship between these two constructs using confirmatory factor analysis. Furthermore, we intend to close the gap of more daily life-associated executive functions and replicate findings in preschool-aged children. Data from a sample of N = 124 average developed children without severe impairments (aged 4 years 0 months–6 years 11 months) were analyzed using the data pool of the standardization and validation studies on the German Wechsler Preschool and Primary Scale of Intelligence—Fourth Edition. Additionally, Executive functions were assessed using a standardized parent-completed questionnaire (BRIEF-P) on their children’s everyday behavior. A second-order factor solution revealed that a model with a loading of the common factor of general intelligence (g-factor) onto the EF factor fits the data best. To specify possible method effects due to different sources of measurements, a latent method factor was generated. The results indicate a heterogeneous method effect and a decreasing factor loading from g on to EF while controlling for the method factor.
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12
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Freis SM, Morrison CL, Lessem JM, Hewitt JK, Friedman NP. Genetic and environmental influences on executive functions and intelligence in middle childhood. Dev Sci 2022; 25:e13150. [PMID: 34288270 PMCID: PMC8639807 DOI: 10.1111/desc.13150] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/30/2020] [Revised: 04/26/2021] [Accepted: 06/04/2021] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
Executive functions (EFs) and intelligence (IQ) are phenotypically correlated. In twin studies, latent variables for EFs and IQ display moderate to high heritability estimates; however, they show variable genetic correlations in twin studies spanning childhood to middle age. We analyzed data from over 11,000 children (9- to 10-year-olds, including 749 twin pairs) in the Adolescent Brain Cognitive Development (ABCD) Study to examine the phenotypic and genetic relations between EFs and IQ in childhood. We identified two EF factors-Common EF and Updating-Specific-which were both related to IQ (rs = 0.64-0.81). Common EF and IQ were heritable (53%-67%), and their genetic correlation (rG = 0.86) was not significantly different than 1. These results suggest that EFs and IQ are phenotypically but not genetically separable in middle childhood, meaning that this phenotypic separability may be influenced by environmental factors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Samantha M Freis
- Institute for Behavioral Genetics, University of Colorado Boulder, Boulder, Colorado, USA
- Department of Psychology and Neuroscience, University of Colorado Boulder, Boulder, Colorado, USA
| | - Claire L Morrison
- Institute for Behavioral Genetics, University of Colorado Boulder, Boulder, Colorado, USA
- Department of Psychology and Neuroscience, University of Colorado Boulder, Boulder, Colorado, USA
| | - Jeffrey M Lessem
- Institute for Behavioral Genetics, University of Colorado Boulder, Boulder, Colorado, USA
| | - John K Hewitt
- Institute for Behavioral Genetics, University of Colorado Boulder, Boulder, Colorado, USA
- Department of Psychology and Neuroscience, University of Colorado Boulder, Boulder, Colorado, USA
| | - Naomi P Friedman
- Institute for Behavioral Genetics, University of Colorado Boulder, Boulder, Colorado, USA
- Department of Psychology and Neuroscience, University of Colorado Boulder, Boulder, Colorado, USA
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13
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Zacharov O, Huster RJ, Kaale A. Investigating Cognitive Flexibility in Preschool Children With Autism Spectrum Disorder. Front Psychol 2021; 12:737631. [PMID: 34712184 PMCID: PMC8545993 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2021.737631] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/07/2021] [Accepted: 09/14/2021] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
The current study investigated cognitive flexibility in preschool children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) and those with typical development using the Reverse Categorization (RC) task and the Dimensional Change Card Sort (DCCS) task. We further examined the relationship between non-verbal mental age (NVMA) and the performance on the two tasks. While no significant difference in performance on the RC task between the two groups was found, significantly more children in the typical developing group passed the DCCS task than children in the ASD group. NVMA was found to correlate with performance in both tasks in the typical developing group but not in the ASD group. When the children were matched on NVMA, no differences in task performance between the two groups were found. The current study found the disparity in performance in two groups on the RC and the DCCS tasks, hence illuminating the importance related to the selection of tasks when studying cognitive flexibility in preschool children with ASD. The study also cast some light on the involvement of NVMA in the performance on the RC and DCCS tasks.
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Affiliation(s)
- Oleg Zacharov
- Department of Special Needs Education, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway
| | | | - Anett Kaale
- Department of Special Needs Education, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway.,Norwegian Center of Expertise for Neurodevelopmental Disorders and Hypersomnias, Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway
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14
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Tonér S, Kallioinen P, Lacerda F. Selective Auditory Attention Associated With Language Skills but Not With Executive Functions in Swedish Preschoolers. Front Psychol 2021; 12:664501. [PMID: 34079498 PMCID: PMC8165184 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2021.664501] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/05/2021] [Accepted: 04/16/2021] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Associations between language and executive functions (EFs) are well-established but previous work has often focused more on EFs than on language. To further clarify the language-EF relationship, we assessed several aspects of language and EFs in 431 Swedish children aged 4-6, including selective auditory attention which was measured in an event-related potential paradigm. We also investigated potential associations to age, socioeconomic status (SES), bi-/multilingualism, sex and aspects of preschool attendance and quality. Language and EFs correlated weakly to moderately, indicating that relying on measures of vocabulary alone may overestimate the strength of the language-EF relationship. Contrary to predictions, we found no correlations between selective attention and EFs. There were however correlations between morphosyntactic accuracy and selective auditory attention which is in line with previous work and suggests a specific link between morphosyntax and the ability to suppress irrelevant stimuli. In Sweden, socioeconomic differences are rather small and preschool is universally available, but nevertheless, aspects of parental SES predicted children's performance on all measures. Bi-/multilingual children performed lower on language also when controlling for SES, highlighting the need for interventions to reduce inequalities in educational outcomes already in preschool. A female advantage was found for both language and EFs, whereas preschool attendance and quality were not significantly related to outcome measures. Future work should include longitudinal studies of language and EF development, include children from diverse SES backgrounds and contribute toward a theoretical framework that further clarifies the language-EF relationship.
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Affiliation(s)
- Signe Tonér
- Faculty of Humanities, Department of Linguistics, Stockholm University, Stockholm, Sweden
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15
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Mariscal MG, Berry-Kravis E, Buxbaum JD, Ethridge LE, Filip-Dhima R, Foss-Feig JH, Kolevzon A, Modi ME, Mosconi MW, Nelson CA, Powell CM, Siper PM, Soorya L, Thaliath A, Thurm A, Zhang B, Sahin M, Levin AR. Shifted phase of EEG cross-frequency coupling in individuals with Phelan-McDermid syndrome. Mol Autism 2021; 12:29. [PMID: 33910615 PMCID: PMC8082621 DOI: 10.1186/s13229-020-00411-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/22/2020] [Accepted: 12/28/2020] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Phelan-McDermid Syndrome (PMS) is a rare condition caused by deletion or mutation of the SHANK3 gene. Individuals with PMS frequently present with intellectual disability, autism spectrum disorder, and other neurodevelopmental challenges. Electroencephalography (EEG) can provide a window into network-level function in PMS. METHODS Here, we analyze EEG data collected across multiple sites in individuals with PMS (n = 26) and typically developing individuals (n = 15). We quantify oscillatory power, alpha-gamma phase-amplitude coupling strength, and phase bias, a measure of the phase of cross frequency coupling thought to reflect the balance of feedforward (bottom-up) and feedback (top-down) activity. RESULTS We find individuals with PMS display increased alpha-gamma phase bias (U = 3.841, p < 0.0005), predominantly over posterior electrodes. Most individuals with PMS demonstrate positive overall phase bias while most typically developing individuals demonstrate negative overall phase bias. Among individuals with PMS, strength of alpha-gamma phase-amplitude coupling was associated with Sameness, Ritualistic, and Compulsive behaviors as measured by the Repetitive Behavior Scales-Revised (Beta = 0.545, p = 0.011). CONCLUSIONS Increased phase bias suggests potential circuit-level mechanisms underlying phenotype in PMS, offering opportunities for back-translation of findings into animal models and targeting in clinical trials.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Elizabeth Berry-Kravis
- Department of Pediatrics, Rush University Medical Center, Chicago, IL, USA
- Department of Neurological Sciences, Rush University Medical Center, Chicago, IL, USA
- Department of Biochemistry, Rush University Medical Center, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - Joseph D Buxbaum
- Seaver Autism Center, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai Hospital, New York, NY, USA
- Department of Psychiatry, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
- Department of Genetics and Genomic Sciences, Mount Sinai School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA
- Department of Neuroscience, Mount Sinai School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA
| | - Lauren E Ethridge
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Oklahoma Health Science Center, Oklahoma City, OK, USA
| | - Rajna Filip-Dhima
- Department of Neurology, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Jennifer H Foss-Feig
- Seaver Autism Center, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai Hospital, New York, NY, USA
| | - Alexander Kolevzon
- Seaver Autism Center, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai Hospital, New York, NY, USA
- Department of Psychiatry, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
| | - Meera E Modi
- Department of Neurology, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Matthew W Mosconi
- Clinical Child Psychology Program, Schiefelbusch Institute for Life Span Studies, University of Kansas, Lawrence, KS, USA
| | - Charles A Nelson
- Department of Pediatrics, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Craig M Powell
- Department of Neurobiology, UAB School of Medicine, Birmingham, AL, USA
| | - Paige M Siper
- Seaver Autism Center, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai Hospital, New York, NY, USA
| | - Latha Soorya
- Department of Psychiatry, Rush University Medical Center, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - Andrew Thaliath
- Department of Pediatrics, Rush University Medical Center, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - Audrey Thurm
- Intramural Research Program, National Institute of Mental Health, Bethesda, USA
| | - Bo Zhang
- Department of Neurology, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Mustafa Sahin
- Department of Neurology, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
| | - April R Levin
- Department of Neurology, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA, USA.
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16
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Ezell J, Hogan A, Will EA, Smith K, Roberts J. Cardiac Startle Response and Clinical Outcomes in Preschool Children With Fragile X Syndrome and Autism Spectrum Disorder. Front Psychiatry 2021; 12:729127. [PMID: 35046845 PMCID: PMC8761627 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyt.2021.729127] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/22/2021] [Accepted: 11/09/2021] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Objective: Poor physiological regulation in response to threat is linked to multiple negative developmental outcomes including anxiety, which is highly prevalent and impairing in young children with neurodevelopmental disabilities like fragile X syndrome (FXS) and autism spectrum disorder (ASD). The present study contrasted cardiac startle response in pre-school-aged children with FXS, with and without ASD, to children with non-syndromic ASD (nsASD) and neurotypical controls (NT). The relationship of cardiac startle to non-verbal mental age (NVMA), ASD severity, and parent-reported anxiety was also examined. Method: Four age-matched groups of pre-school children participated including those with FXS without ASD (FXS-Only, n = 21), FXS with ASD (FXS+ASD, n = 17), nsASD (n = 42), and NT children (n = 27). Participants viewed a silent movie during which a single 200 ms 98-decibel white noise burst occurred. Cardiac activity was analyzed for pre-stimulus respiratory sinus arrhythmia (RSA) and the inter-beat intervals (IBI) at the auditory stimulus and 10 s post-stimulus. The Spence Pre-school Anxiety Scale, Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule-2nd Edition, and Mullen Scales of Early Learning were examined in relation to startle response. Results: The nsASD group demonstrated heightened cardiac activity at the auditory stimulus and 10 s post-stimulus compared to the NT controls. Neither of the FXS groups showed differences from any other group. Higher pre-stimulus RSA was associated with reduced cardiac response across groups, while the relationship between cognitive ability and ASD severity to cardiac response varied between groups. Parent-reported anxiety was not associated with cardiac response for any group. Conclusion: These findings demonstrate group distinctions in cardiac responses to auditory startle. Although FXS and ASD share behavioral characteristics, the nsASD group showed a heightened cardiac startle response compared to the NT group that was not present in the FXS groups with or without ASD. Non-verbal mental age was associated with greater stimulus or post-stimulus reactivity for all groups except the FXS+ASD group, which showed no association between startle response and any clinical outcomes. Increased understanding of the relationship between physiological regulation and clinical outcomes will assist in identifying the timing and targets for effective interventions for individuals with neurodevelopmental disabilities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jordan Ezell
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC, United States
| | - Abigail Hogan
- Department of Psychology, University of South Carolina, Columbia, SC, United States
| | - Elizabeth A Will
- Department of Psychology, University of South Carolina, Columbia, SC, United States
| | - Kayla Smith
- Department of Psychology, University of South Carolina, Columbia, SC, United States
| | - Jane Roberts
- Department of Psychology, University of South Carolina, Columbia, SC, United States
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17
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Stephens RL, Langworthy BW, Short SJ, Girault JB, Styner MA, Gilmore JH. White Matter Development from Birth to 6 Years of Age: A Longitudinal Study. Cereb Cortex 2020; 30:6152-6168. [PMID: 32591808 DOI: 10.1093/cercor/bhaa170] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/29/2019] [Revised: 04/30/2020] [Accepted: 05/22/2020] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Human white matter development in the first years of life is rapid, setting the foundation for later development. Microstructural properties of white matter are linked to many behavioral and psychiatric outcomes; however, little is known about when in development individual differences in white matter microstructure are established. The aim of the current study is to characterize longitudinal development of white matter microstructure from birth through 6 years to determine when in development individual differences are established. Two hundred and twenty-four children underwent diffusion-weighted imaging after birth and at 1, 2, 4, and 6 years. Diffusion tensor imaging data were computed for 20 white matter tracts (9 left-right corresponding tracts and 2 commissural tracts), with tract-based measures of fractional anisotropy and axial and radial diffusivity. Microstructural maturation between birth and 1 year are much greater than subsequent changes. Further, by 1 year, individual differences in tract average values are consistently predictive of the respective 6-year values, explaining, on average, 40% of the variance in 6-year microstructure. Results provide further evidence of the importance of the first year of life with regard to white matter development, with potential implications for informing early intervention efforts that target specific sensitive periods.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rebecca L Stephens
- Department of Psychiatry, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
| | - Benjamin W Langworthy
- Department of Biostatistics, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
| | - Sarah J Short
- Department of Educational Psychology, Center for Healthy Minds, University of Wisconsin, Madison, Madison, WI 53703, USA
| | - Jessica B Girault
- Department of Psychiatry, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA.,Carolina Institute for Developmental Disabilities, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
| | - Martin A Styner
- Department of Psychiatry, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA.,Department of Computer Science, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
| | - John H Gilmore
- Department of Psychiatry, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
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18
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Ochoa TJ, Zegarra J, Bellomo S, Carcamo CP, Cam L, Castañeda A, Villavicencio A, Gonzales J, Rueda MS, Turin CG, Zea-Vera A, Guillen D, Campos M, Ewing-Cobbs L. Randomized Controlled Trial of Bovine Lactoferrin for Prevention of Sepsis and Neurodevelopment Impairment in Infants Weighing Less Than 2000 Grams. J Pediatr 2020; 219:118-125.e5. [PMID: 32037149 PMCID: PMC7096260 DOI: 10.1016/j.jpeds.2019.12.038] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/31/2019] [Revised: 11/25/2019] [Accepted: 12/17/2019] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES To determine the effect of bovine lactoferrin on prevention of late-onset sepsis (LOS) and neurodevelopment delay. STUDY DESIGN Randomized, double-blind, controlled trial in neonates with a birth weight of 500-2000 g in 3 neonatal units in Lima, Peru, comparing bovine lactoferrin 200 mg/kg/day with placebo administered for 8 weeks. The primary outcome was the first episode of culture-proven LOS or sepsis-associated death. Neurodevelopment delay was assessed by the Mullen Scales at 24 months corrected age. RESULTS Of the 414 infants enrolled, 209 received bovine lactoferrin and 205 received placebo. LOS or sepsis-associated death occurred in 22 infants (10.5%) in the bovine lactoferrin group vs 30 (14.6%) in the placebo group; there was no difference after adjusting for hospital and birth weight; hazard ratio 0.73 (95% CI, 0.42-1.26). For infants with birth weights of <1500 g the hazard ratio was 0.69 (95% CI, 0.39-1.25). The mean age-adjusted normalized Mullen composite score at 24 months was 83.3 ± 13.6 in the bovine lactoferrin group vs 82.6 ± 13.1 in the placebo group. Growth outcomes and rehospitalization rates during the 2-year follow-up were similar in both groups, except for significantly less bronchiolitis in the bovine lactoferrin group (rate ratio, 0.34; 95% CI, 0.14-0.86). CONCLUSIONS Supplementation with bovine lactoferrin did not decrease the incidence of sepsis in infants with birth weights of <2000 g. Growth and neurodevelopment outcomes at 24 months of age were similar. Neonatal bovine lactoferrin supplementation had no adverse effects. TRIAL REGISTRATION ClinicalTrials.gov: NCT01525316.
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Affiliation(s)
- Theresa J. Ochoa
- Department of Pediatrics, School of Medicine, Universidad Peruana Cayetano Heredia, Lima, Peru,Instituto de Medicina Tropical “Alexander von Humboldt”, Universidad Peruana Cayetano Heredia, Lima, Peru,Center for Infectious Diseases, School of Public Health, University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, Texas, United States
| | - Jaime Zegarra
- Department of Pediatrics, School of Medicine, Universidad Peruana Cayetano Heredia, Lima, Peru,Hospital Cayetano Heredia, Lima, Peru
| | - Sicilia Bellomo
- Department of Pediatrics, School of Medicine, Universidad Peruana Cayetano Heredia, Lima, Peru,Hospital Cayetano Heredia, Lima, Peru
| | - Cesar P. Carcamo
- School of Public Health and Administration, Universidad Peruana Cayetano Heredia, Lima, Peru
| | - Luis Cam
- Hospital Nacional Alberto Sabogal, Lima, Peru
| | | | - Aasith Villavicencio
- Department of Pediatrics, School of Medicine, Universidad Peruana Cayetano Heredia, Lima, Peru
| | - Jorge Gonzales
- Department of Pediatrics, School of Medicine, Universidad Peruana Cayetano Heredia, Lima, Peru
| | - Maria S. Rueda
- Department of Pediatrics, School of Medicine, Universidad Peruana Cayetano Heredia, Lima, Peru
| | - Christie G. Turin
- Department of Pediatrics, School of Medicine, Universidad Peruana Cayetano Heredia, Lima, Peru
| | - Alonso Zea-Vera
- Department of Pediatrics, School of Medicine, Universidad Peruana Cayetano Heredia, Lima, Peru
| | - Daniel Guillen
- Department of Pediatrics, School of Medicine, Universidad Peruana Cayetano Heredia, Lima, Peru,Hospital Cayetano Heredia, Lima, Peru
| | - Miguel Campos
- Department of Mathematics, School of Science and Philosophy, Universidad Peruana Cayetano Heredia, Lima, Peru
| | - Linda Ewing-Cobbs
- Department of Pediatrics and Children’s Learning Institute, School of Medicine, University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, Texas, United States
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