Research

13 pages, 780 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Decline in Processing Speed Tells Only Half the Story: Developmental Delay in Children Living with Sickle Cell Disease

by Elise Jade Walker, Fenella Jane Kirkham and Anna Marie Hood

Children 2024, 11(3), 277; https://doi.org/10.3390/children11030277 - 23 Feb 2024

Viewed by 833

Children with sickle cell disease (SCD) may experience cognitive difficulties, including slowed processing speed. Thus, we investigated if processing speed changes over time. From 1992–2001, 103 participants with SCD aged 3–16 years (n ≤ 8.99 = 45; n ≥ 9.00 = 58) completed [...] Read more.

Children with sickle cell disease (SCD) may experience cognitive difficulties, including slowed processing speed. Thus, we investigated if processing speed changes over time. From 1992–2001, 103 participants with SCD aged 3–16 years (n ≤ 8.99 = 45; n ≥ 9.00 = 58) completed cognitive assessments. MRI was available for 54 participants. Between 1992–2002, 58 participants consented to one or two further assessments. A repeated measures regression using linear mixed-effects modelling determined longitudinal changes in processing speed index (PSI), examining the interaction between age (continuous variable) and timepoint (i.e., assessment 1 or 3) and controlling for MRI infarct status (i.e., no infarct, silent infarct, or stroke). Those aged ≤8.99 and ≥9.00 at first assessment experienced PSI decline. Declines were most prominent for the processing speed coding subtest, with a significant interaction between timepoint and age, t(31) = 2.64, p = 0.01. This decline may reflect a developmental delay, likely due to disease progression, with slower improvements in processing speed. Although there have been significant improvements in SCD treatments, mostly in high-income countries, processing speed still remains a target; thus, incorporating clinical monitoring of processing speed may help identify delay and allow for early intervention. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Cognitive Neuroscience and Neuropsychiatry in Infancy and Early Childhood Development)

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13 pages, 848 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Executive Function and Processing Speed in Children Living with Sickle Cell Anemia

by Stephanie C. Kelleher, Fenella J. Kirkham and Anna M. Hood

Children 2023, 10(10), 1585; https://doi.org/10.3390/children10101585 - 22 Sep 2023

Viewed by 831

Abstract

Executive function and processing speed difficulties are observed in children living with sickle cell anemia (SCA). The influence of processing speed on executive function is not well understood. We recruited 59 children living with SCA and 24 matched controls aged 8–18 years between [...] Read more.

Executive function and processing speed difficulties are observed in children living with sickle cell anemia (SCA). The influence of processing speed on executive function is not well understood. We recruited 59 children living with SCA and 24 matched controls aged 8–18 years between 2010 and 2016 from clinics in the UK. Children completed tests in processing speed and cognitive flexibility, subdomains of executive function. MRI scans were conducted within one year of testing; oxygen saturation was obtained on the day of testing. Hemoglobin levels were obtained from medical records. Caregivers completed the executive function questionnaire. Hierarchical linear regressions found that hemoglobin, oxygen saturation, age, infarct status, and processing speed were not independent predictors for any model. However, for all cognitive flexibility tests, there was a significant interaction between infarct status and processing speed; children without silent cerebral infarction (SCI) with faster processing speed had better cognitive flexibility. Our findings indicate that, when interpreting executive function difficulties, it is important to account for the relationship between SCI status and processing speed. More research is needed to elucidate the mechanisms, but clinically, including executive function testing as part of clinic visits by embedding psychologists within the healthcare team would appear to be a critical step. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Cognitive Neuroscience and Neuropsychiatry in Infancy and Early Childhood Development)

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13 pages, 5340 KiB

Open AccessCommunication

Links between Daytime Napping, Night-Time Sleep Quality and Infant Attention: An Eye-Tracking, Actigraphy and Parent-Report Study

by Nabil Hasshim, Jessica Bramham, Jennifer Keating, Rebecca A. Gaffney, Lisa Keenan, Sarah Conroy, Fiona McNicholas, Alan Carr and Michelle Downes

Children 2022, 9(11), 1613; https://doi.org/10.3390/children9111613 - 23 Oct 2022

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1559

Abstract

The current study explored the potential influence of infant sleep, measured by parental report and actigraphy, and family functioning on attention development using eye tracking. The use of actigraphy in parallel with parental report, has the advantage of measuring participant’s sleep throughout the [...] Read more.

The current study explored the potential influence of infant sleep, measured by parental report and actigraphy, and family functioning on attention development using eye tracking. The use of actigraphy in parallel with parental report, has the advantage of measuring participant’s sleep throughout the night without parental observation and the ability to objectively assess sleep quality. An eye-tracking version of the Gap-Overlap task was used to measure visual attention. Questionnaires and behavioural assessment were used to assess family function, and general cognitive development. Fifty infants (Mean age = 13.44 months, SD = 3.10) participated in the study, 23 of which had full final datasets. Results show that daytime sleep duration, as measured by parental report, and proportion of light sleep at night, as measured by actigraphy, are linked to visual attention. A higher proportion of light sleep, a marker of poorer sleep quality, and less daytime sleep were negatively linked with facilitation and disengagement on the Gap-Overlap task. Family functioning was not associated with attention. The results provide initial evidence that in addition to the amount of daytime sleep; quality of night-time sleep as measured by proportion of light sleep, is a potentially useful sleep variable which requires further focus in the study of attention development. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Cognitive Neuroscience and Neuropsychiatry in Infancy and Early Childhood Development)

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18 pages, 2988 KiB

Open AccessArticle

The Effect of Leisure Time Sport on Executive Functions in Danish 1st Grade Children

by Gitte Meilandt Siersbaek, Mona Have and Niels Wedderkopp

Children 2022, 9(10), 1458; https://doi.org/10.3390/children9101458 - 23 Sep 2022

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1888

Abstract

Physical inactivity can influence children’s executive functions with severe impact on wellbeing and academic learning. The objective is to study the effect of leisure time sport on executive functions in Danish 1st grade children, and secondary to explore if socio-economy is a confounder [...] Read more.

Physical inactivity can influence children’s executive functions with severe impact on wellbeing and academic learning. The objective is to study the effect of leisure time sport on executive functions in Danish 1st grade children, and secondary to explore if socio-economy is a confounder for associations between leisure time sport and executive functions. This study is a sub-study nested within a cluster-randomized controlled trial with two arms (ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT02488460). 505 children from twelve schools, mean age 7.2 ± 0.3 years participated. Outcomes for executive function were “Modified Eriksen Flanker/Reverse Flanker Task” and “Behavior Rating Inventory of Executive Function” (BRIEF-P). Parents used SMS-tracking to register their children’s leisure time sport. Multivariate analyzes was performed using mixed linear regression, with adjustment for highest parental education, sex, municipality, and school-type. We found that leisure time sport seems to significantly improve working memory (WM) with nearly 20%, and furthermore it seems to be a significant predictor of ‘Initiate’ (the ability to begin an activity, to generate ideas, responses or problem-solving strategies). Socio-economy was not found to be a confounder. This study lends support to the hypothesis that leisure time sport is related to working memory capacity in children. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Cognitive Neuroscience and Neuropsychiatry in Infancy and Early Childhood Development)

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18 pages, 2525 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Neural Marker of Habituation at 5 Months of Age Associated with Deferred Imitation Performance at 12 Months: A Longitudinal Study in the UK and The Gambia

by Laura Katus, Bosiljka Milosavljevic, Maria Rozhko, Samantha McCann, Luke Mason, Ebrima Mbye, Ebou Touray, Sophie E. Moore, Clare E. Elwell, Sarah Lloyd-Fox, Michelle de Haan and The BRIGHT Study Team

Children 2022, 9(7), 988; https://doi.org/10.3390/children9070988 - 01 Jul 2022

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 2351

Abstract

Across cultures, imitation provides a crucial route to learning during infancy. However, neural predictors which would enable early identification of infants at risk of suboptimal developmental outcomes are still rare. In this paper, we examine associations between ERP markers of habituation and novelty [...] Read more.

Across cultures, imitation provides a crucial route to learning during infancy. However, neural predictors which would enable early identification of infants at risk of suboptimal developmental outcomes are still rare. In this paper, we examine associations between ERP markers of habituation and novelty detection measured at 1 and 5 months of infant age in the UK (n = 61) and rural Gambia (n = 214) and infants’ responses on a deferred imitation task at 8 and 12 months. In both cohorts, habituation responses at 5 months significantly predicted deferred imitation responses at 12 months of age in both cohorts. Furthermore, ERP habituation responses explained a unique proportion of variance in deferred imitation scores which could not be accounted for by a neurobehavioural measure (Mullen Scales of Early Learning) conducted at 5 months of age. Our findings highlight the potential for ERP markers of habituation and novelty detection measured before 6 months of age to provide insight into later imitation abilities and memory development across diverse settings. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Cognitive Neuroscience and Neuropsychiatry in Infancy and Early Childhood Development)

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16 pages, 599 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceArticle

Visual Function and Neuropsychological Profile in Children with Cerebral Visual Impairment

by Federica Morelli, Giorgia Aprile, Chiara Martolini, Elena Ballante, Lucrezia Olivier, Elisa Ercolino, Eleonora Perotto and Sabrina Signorini

Children 2022, 9(6), 921; https://doi.org/10.3390/children9060921 - 19 Jun 2022

Cited by 11 | Viewed by 2654

Abstract

Cerebral Visual Impairment (CVI) has become the leading cause of children’s visual impairment in developed countries. Since CVI may negatively affect neuropsychomotor development, an early diagnosis and characterization become fundamental to define effective habilitation approaches. To date, there is a lack of standardized [...] Read more.

Cerebral Visual Impairment (CVI) has become the leading cause of children’s visual impairment in developed countries. Since CVI may negatively affect neuropsychomotor development, an early diagnosis and characterization become fundamental to define effective habilitation approaches. To date, there is a lack of standardized diagnostic methods to assess CVI in children, and the role of visual functions in children’s neuropsychological profiles has been poorly investigated. In the present paper, we aim to describe the clinical and neuropsychological profiles and to investigate the possible effects of visual functions on neuropsychological performance of a cohort of children diagnosed with CVI. Fifty-one children with CVI were included in our retrospective analysis (inclusion criteria: verbal IQ > 70 in Wechsler scales; absence of significant ocular involvement). For each participant, we collected data on neuropsychological assessment (i.e., cognitive, cognitive visual, and learning abilities), basic visual functions (e.g., Best Corrected Visual Acuity—BCVA, contrast sensitivity, and ocular motor abilities) and global development features (e.g., neurological signs and motor development delay) based on standardized tests, according to patients’ ages. The results showed that oculomotor dysfunction involving saccades and smooth pursuit may be a core symptom of CVI and might have a significant impact on cognitive visual and other neuropsychological abilities. Furthermore, visual acuity and contrast sensitivity may influence cognitive, cognitive visual, and academic performances. Our findings suggest the importance of a comprehensive assessment of both visual and neuropsychological functions in children when CVI is suspected, which is needed to provide a more comprehensive functional profile and define the best habilitation strategy to sustain functional vision. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Cognitive Neuroscience and Neuropsychiatry in Infancy and Early Childhood Development)

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13 pages, 645 KiB

Open AccessArticle

by Clara Abadesso, Susana Pacheco, Maria Céu Machado and G. Allen Finley

Children 2022, 9(2), 283; https://doi.org/10.3390/children9020283 - 18 Feb 2022

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 2355

Abstract

Health-Related Quality of Life (HRQL) can be used to measure the impact of Sickle Cell Disease (SCD) on the child and their family and is generally reduced. No research has yet measured HRQL in Portuguese pediatric SCD patients. Objectives: (1) Describe and compare [...] Read more.

Health-Related Quality of Life (HRQL) can be used to measure the impact of Sickle Cell Disease (SCD) on the child and their family and is generally reduced. No research has yet measured HRQL in Portuguese pediatric SCD patients. Objectives: (1) Describe and compare HRQL of children with SCD reported by them and their parents; (2) Compare with a pediatric population with no SCD; (3) Find predictive factors of HRQL in SCD children. Methods: Descriptive, case-control study that included sixty-eight children and adolescents with SCD (aged 3 to 18 years) and their parents. Control group—children with no SCD, matched by age, gender and ethnic background. HRQL was assessed using the multidimensional self-report PedsQL^® 4.0 Generic Scales. Summary scores for overall HRQL and subscale scores for physical, emotional, social and school functioning were compared within groups (children-parents) and with the control group. Clinical and socio-demographic variables were analyzed to find predictive factors of HRQL in pediatric SCD patients. Results: Children with SCD and their parents had significantly lower overall and all subdomains of HRQL, compared with the control group. Children with SCD also rated lower when compared with their parents (only significant for social functioning), with low to moderate correlations. Children and parent reports declined with increasing age. Higher pain frequency was associated with worse total and psychosocial domains of HRQL. The number of hospitalizations was a predictor of worse school score, and female gender was a predictor of worse emotional score. Conclusions: SCD significantly affects children’s HRQL. Parents can provide a good proxy report, although both evaluations are beneficial. Disease status, like number of hospitalizations and frequency of pain, influences HRQL. Interventions in SCD should consider improvements in HRQL as an important outcome. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Cognitive Neuroscience and Neuropsychiatry in Infancy and Early Childhood Development)

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Review

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12 pages, 1020 KiB

Open AccessReview

Gut Microbiota to Microglia: Microbiome Influences Neurodevelopment in the CNS

by Jeffery Bettag, Daniel Goldenberg, Jasmine Carter, Sylvia Morfin, Alison Borsotti, James Fox, Matthew ReVeal, Dylan Natrop, David Gosser, Sree Kolli and Ajay K. Jain

Children 2023, 10(11), 1767; https://doi.org/10.3390/children10111767 - 31 Oct 2023

Viewed by 2318

Abstract

The brain is traditionally viewed as an immunologically privileged site; however, there are known to be multiple resident immune cells that influence the CNS environment and are reactive to extra-CNS signaling. Microglia are an important component of this system, which influences early neurodevelopment [...] Read more.

The brain is traditionally viewed as an immunologically privileged site; however, there are known to be multiple resident immune cells that influence the CNS environment and are reactive to extra-CNS signaling. Microglia are an important component of this system, which influences early neurodevelopment in addition to modulating inflammation and regenerative responses to injury and infection. Microglia are influenced by gut microbiome-derived metabolites, both as part of their normal function and potentially in pathological patterns that may induce neurodevelopmental disabilities or behavioral changes. This review aims to summarize the mounting evidence indicating that, not only is the Gut–Brain axis mediated by metabolites and microglia throughout an organism’s lifetime, but it is also influenced prenatally by maternal microbiome and diet, which holds implications for both early neuropathology and neurodevelopment. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Cognitive Neuroscience and Neuropsychiatry in Infancy and Early Childhood Development)

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26 pages, 1393 KiB

Open AccessReview

Neuroimaging and Cognitive Function in Sickle Cell Disease: A Systematic Review

by Suad S. Abdi, Michelle De Haan and Fenella J. Kirkham

Children 2023, 10(3), 532; https://doi.org/10.3390/children10030532 - 09 Mar 2023

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 2333

Abstract

Sickle cell disease (SCD) is the most common inherited single-gene disease. Complications include chronic anaemia, reduced oxygen-carrying capability, and cerebral vasculopathy, resulting in silent cerebral infarction, stroke, and cognitive dysfunction with impairments in measures of executive function, attention, reasoning, language, memory, and IQ. [...] Read more.

Sickle cell disease (SCD) is the most common inherited single-gene disease. Complications include chronic anaemia, reduced oxygen-carrying capability, and cerebral vasculopathy, resulting in silent cerebral infarction, stroke, and cognitive dysfunction with impairments in measures of executive function, attention, reasoning, language, memory, and IQ. This systematic review aims to investigate the association between neuroimaging findings and cognition in children with SCD. Searches of PubMed and Embase were conducted in March 2022. Studies were included if participants were <18 years, if original data were published in English between 1960 and 2022, if any genotype of SCD was included, and if the relationship between cognition and neuroimaging was examined. Exclusion criteria included case studies, editorials, and reviews. Quality was assessed using the Critical Appraisal Skills Programme Case Control Checklist. A total of 303 articles were retrieved; 33 met the eligibility criteria. The presence of overt or silent strokes, elevated blood flow velocities, abnormal functional connectivity, and decreased fMRI activation were associated with neuropsychological deficits in children with SCD when compared to controls. There is a critical need to address the disease manifestations of SCD early, as damage appears to begin at a young age. Most studies were cross-sectional, restricting the interpretation of the directionality of relationships. Future research employing longitudinal neuroimaging and neuropsychological assessments could improve our understanding of the cumulative consequences of SCD on the developing brain. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Cognitive Neuroscience and Neuropsychiatry in Infancy and Early Childhood Development)

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Other

Jump to: Research, Review

9 pages, 4906 KiB

Open AccessCase Report

Secondary Narcolepsy as Worsening Sign in a Pediatric Case of Optic Pathway Glioma

by Beatrice Laus, Anna Maria Caroleo, Giovanna Stefania Colafati, Andrea Carai, Romina Moavero, Michela Ada Noris Ferilli, Massimiliano Valeriani, Angela Mastronuzzi and Antonella Cacchione

Children 2022, 9(10), 1455; https://doi.org/10.3390/children9101455 - 23 Sep 2022

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 2038

Abstract

Narcolepsy, a neurologic disorder that leads to excessive daytime sleepiness, may represent a rare consequence of neoplastic lesions involving the sellar/parasellar and hypothalamic regions, the anatomical areas responsible for wakefulness. Optic pathway gliomas represent the most common neoplasm of these regions and present [...] Read more.

Narcolepsy, a neurologic disorder that leads to excessive daytime sleepiness, may represent a rare consequence of neoplastic lesions involving the sellar/parasellar and hypothalamic regions, the anatomical areas responsible for wakefulness. Optic pathway gliomas represent the most common neoplasm of these regions and present an excellent overall survival, while long-term neurologic impairments, such as visual loss, endocrinopathies, or sleep disorders, are the principal causes of morbidity. In this case report, we describe a non-NF1 patient suffering from a very extensive optical pathway glioma, who several years after the diagnosis in a radiological condition of stable disease, presented with severe narcolepsy, a rare complication, that led to the death of the patient. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Cognitive Neuroscience and Neuropsychiatry in Infancy and Early Childhood Development)

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