TY - JOUR
T1 - Spastic diplegia in preterm-born children
T2 - Executive function impairment and neuroanatomical correlates
AU - Di Lieto, Maria Chiara
AU - Brovedani, Paola
AU - Pecini, Chiara
AU - Chilosi, Anna Maria
AU - Belmonti, Vittorio
AU - Fabbro, Franco
AU - Urgesi, Cosimo
AU - Fiori, Simona
AU - Guzzetta, Andrea
AU - Perazza, Silvia
AU - Sicola, Elisa
AU - Cioni, Giovanni
PY - 2016/12/18
Y1 - 2016/12/18
N2 - Background The neuropsychological literature on preterm-born children with spastic diplegia due to periventricular leukomalacia is convergent in reporting deficits in non-verbal intelligence and in visuo-spatial abilities. Nevertheless, other cognitive functions have found to be impaired, but data are scant and not correlated with neuroimaging findings. Aims This study analyzes the neuropsychological strengths and weaknesses in preterm-born children with spastic diplegia (pSD) and their relationships with neuroanatomical findings, investigated by a novel scale for MRI classification. Methods and procedures Nineteen children with pSD, mild to moderate upper limb impairment and Verbal IQ > 80, and 38 normal controls were evaluated with a comprehensive neuropsychological battery (NEPSY-II), assessing Attention/Executive Functioning, Language, Memory, Sensorimotor, Social Perception and Visuospatial Processing domains. The MRIs were quantitatively scored for lesion severity. Outcomes and results The results showed that, beyond core visuo-spatial and sensory-motor deficits, impairments in attention and executive functions were present in more than half of the sample, particularly in children with damage to the anterior corpus callosum. Conclusions and implications The findings are discussed in terms of clinical and rehabilitative implications tailored for pSD subgroups diversified for neuropsychological and neuroanatomical characteristics.
AB - Background The neuropsychological literature on preterm-born children with spastic diplegia due to periventricular leukomalacia is convergent in reporting deficits in non-verbal intelligence and in visuo-spatial abilities. Nevertheless, other cognitive functions have found to be impaired, but data are scant and not correlated with neuroimaging findings. Aims This study analyzes the neuropsychological strengths and weaknesses in preterm-born children with spastic diplegia (pSD) and their relationships with neuroanatomical findings, investigated by a novel scale for MRI classification. Methods and procedures Nineteen children with pSD, mild to moderate upper limb impairment and Verbal IQ > 80, and 38 normal controls were evaluated with a comprehensive neuropsychological battery (NEPSY-II), assessing Attention/Executive Functioning, Language, Memory, Sensorimotor, Social Perception and Visuospatial Processing domains. The MRIs were quantitatively scored for lesion severity. Outcomes and results The results showed that, beyond core visuo-spatial and sensory-motor deficits, impairments in attention and executive functions were present in more than half of the sample, particularly in children with damage to the anterior corpus callosum. Conclusions and implications The findings are discussed in terms of clinical and rehabilitative implications tailored for pSD subgroups diversified for neuropsychological and neuroanatomical characteristics.
KW - Children
KW - Executive functions
KW - NEPSY-II
KW - Neuroanatomical correlates
KW - Neuropsychological profile
KW - Preterm spastic diplegia
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U2 - 10.1016/j.ridd.2016.12.006
DO - 10.1016/j.ridd.2016.12.006
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:85008642344
VL - 61
SP - 116
EP - 126
JO - Research in Developmental Disabilities
JF - Research in Developmental Disabilities
SN - 0891-4222
ER -