title: Risk and resilience in the cognitive functioning of children born to HIV-1-infected mothers: a preliminary report.
abstract: Although biologic and environmental risk factors show an age-dependent effect on children's cognitive development, outcome studies have yet to consider the role such factors play in the development of children born to HIV-1-infected women. This study explored the age-dependent differential impact of such risk factors on the cognitive functioning of children exposed in utero to HIV-1. Eighty-two children were administered a standardized measure of cognitive functioning and divided into two groups depending on their age when tested. Group 1 included children age 2 to 29 months (n = 46); Group 2 included children age 30 to 101 months (n = 36). Correlations between cognitive test scores and specific risk factors revealed an age-related double-dissociation. Serostatus and percent of CD4 cells correlated moderately with cognitive test scores in Group 1; however, these correlations were attenuated and nonsignificant in Group 2. Conversely, caregiver status and cognitive test scores were uncorrelated in Group 1, but were correlated in Group 2. These findings support a risk and resilience model of development. That is, in the context of biologic risk factors, aspects of the child's environment may either facilitate or hinder cognitive development.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tennessee 37203, USA.
authors.forename: J M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Coscia
authors.forename: B K
authors.initials: BK
authors.lastname: Christensen
authors.forename: R R
authors.initials: RR
authors.lastname: Henry
mesh_terms: D015526:AIDS Dementia Complex / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000523:psychology; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003072:Cognition Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000635:transmission*; D015497:HIV-1; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D018445:Infectious Disease Transmission, Vertical; D008297:Male; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D011247:Pregnancy; D011251:Pregnancy Complications, Infectious / Q000175:diagnosis*; D012307:Risk Factors; D012931:Social Environment