1. Measurement of neurodevelopmental effects of prenatal alcohol exposure in Ukrainian preschool children
- Author
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Coles, Claire D, Kable, Julie A, Granovska, Iryna V, Pashtepa, Ala O, Wertelecki, Wladimir, Chambers, Christina D, and CIFASD, The
- Subjects
Clinical and Health Psychology ,Psychology ,Neurosciences ,Behavioral and Social Science ,Clinical Research ,Pediatric ,Conditions Affecting the Embryonic and Fetal Periods ,Alcoholism ,Alcohol Use and Health ,Mental Health ,Basic Behavioral and Social Science ,Substance Misuse ,Perinatal Period - Conditions Originating in Perinatal Period ,Mental health ,Child ,Child ,Preschool ,Executive Function ,Female ,Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders ,Humans ,Memory ,Short-Term ,Neuropsychological Tests ,Pregnancy ,Prenatal Exposure Delayed Effects ,Prenatal alcohol exposure ,Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder ,preschool assessment ,executive function ,CIFASD ,Medical and Health Sciences ,Psychology and Cognitive Sciences ,Operations Research ,Paediatrics ,Applied and developmental psychology - Abstract
Effects of prenatal alcohol exposure (PAE) are rarely measured in preschool children due to relative insensitivity of assessment methods at this age. To examine the potential of a nonverbal battery in early identification of cognitive problems in alcohol-exposed children, 291 prospectively identified Ukrainian children were evaluated using a test battery focusing on early executive functioning (EF) and visuospatial skills, areas of cognitive development particularly sensitive to PAE in older children. Tests included the Differential Ability Scales, 2nd Edition (DAS-2) and several NEPSY/NEPSY-II subtests, standardized in the United States. Others were adapted from commonly used non-standardized neuropsychological measures of EF (Preschool Spatial Span, Imitation Hand Game, A not B, Delayed Attention, Subject Ordered Pointing). Children in two sites in Ukraine, Rivne and Khmelnitsky, were tested at 3 ½-4 ½ years to identify effects of PAE. Although most children performed within the average range, Alcohol-Exposed preschoolers had lower scores on DAS-II Summary Scores as well as on specific subtests. To evaluate the effects of alcohol dose during the pre-pregnancy recognition period and during mid-gestation of pregnancy, generalized linear regression models were used controlling for demographic and individual variables. In addition to DAS-II variables, measures reflecting sustained attention, working memory and ability to shift cognitive set were impacted by alcohol dose. Early executive function appears to subsume these performance differences. In conclusion, findings indicate that the effects of PAE can be identified in the preschool period and reliably measured using tests assessing nonverbal and spatial skills supported by executive functioning.
- Published
- 2021