Wolke, Dieter, Strauss, Vicky Yu-Chun, Johnson, Samantha J., Gilmore, Camilla, Marlow, Neil and Jaekel, Julia (2015) Universal gestational age effects on cognitive and basic mathematic processing : 2 cohorts in 2 countries. The journal of pediatrics, 166 (6). 1410-1416.e2. doi:10.1016/j.jpeds.2015.02.065

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Abstract

Objective:
To determine whether general cognitive ability, basic mathematic processing, and mathematic attainment are universally affected by gestation at birth, as well as whether mathematic attainment is more strongly associated with cohort-specific factors such as schooling than basic cognitive and mathematical abilities.

Study design:
The Bavarian Longitudinal Study (BLS, 1289 children, 27-41 weeks gestational age [GA]) was used to estimate effects of GA on IQ, basic mathematic processing, and mathematic attainment. These estimations were used to predict IQ, mathematic processing, and mathematic attainment in the EPICure Study (171 children <26 weeks GA).

Results:
For children born <34 weeks GA, each lower week decreased IQ and mathematic attainment scores by 2.34 (95% CI: −2.99, −1.70) and 2.76 (95% CI: −3.40, −2.11) points, respectively. There were no differences among children born 34-41 weeks GA. Similarly, for children born <36 weeks GA, mathematic processing scores decreased by 1.77 (95% CI: −2.20, −1.34) points with each lower GA week. The prediction function generated using BLS data accurately predicted the effect of GA on IQ and mathematic processing among EPICure children. However, these children had better attainment than predicted by BLS.

Conclusions:
Prematurity has adverse effects on basic mathematic processing following birth at all gestations <36 weeks and on IQ and mathematic attainment <34 weeks GA. The ability to predict IQ and mathematic processing scores from one cohort to another among children cared for in different eras and countries suggests that universal neurodevelopmental factors may explain the effects of gestation at birth. In contrast, mathematic attainment may be improved by schooling.

Item Type:	Journal Article
Subjects:	R Medicine > RJ Pediatrics
Divisions:	Faculty of Medicine > Warwick Medical School > Health Sciences > Mental Health and Wellbeing Faculty of Science > Psychology Faculty of Medicine > Warwick Medical School
Library of Congress Subject Headings (LCSH):	Premature infants -- Development, Mathematical ability in children
Journal or Publication Title:	The journal of pediatrics
Publisher:	Mosby, Inc.
ISSN:	0022-3476
Official Date:	June 2015
Dates:	Date Event June 2015 Published 3 April 2015 Available 26 February 2015 Accepted 23 October 2014 Submitted
Volume:	166
Number:	6
Page Range:	1410-1416.e2
DOI:	10.1016/j.jpeds.2015.02.065
Status:	Peer Reviewed
Publication Status:	Published
Access rights to Published version:	Open Access
Funder:	Nuffield Foundation (NF), Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG)
Grant number:	EDU/40442 (NF), JA 1913 (DFG)

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