Neuropsychological executive functioning in children at elevated risk for alcoholism: findings in early adolescence.
One component of individual risk for alcoholism may involve cognitive vulnerabilities prodromal to alcoholism onset. This prospective study of 198 boys followed between 3 and 14 years of age evaluated neurocognitive functioning across three groups who varied in familial risk for future alcoholism. Measures of intelligence, reward-response, and a battery of neuropsychological executive and cognitive inhibitory measures were used. Executive functioning weaknesses were greater in families with alcoholism but no antisocial comorbidity. IQ and reward-response weaknesses were associated with familial antisocial alcoholism. Executive function effects were clearest for response inhibition, response speed, and symbol-digit modalities. Results suggest that executive deficits are not part of the highest risk, antisocial pathway to alcoholism but that some executive function weaknesses may contribute to a secondary risk pathway.
Nigg
Joel T
JT
Department of Psychology, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI 48824, USA. nigg@msu.edu
Glass
Jennifer M
JM
Wong
Maria M
MM
Poon
Edwin
E
Jester
Jennifer M
JM
Fitzgerald
Hiram E
HE
Puttler
Leon I
LI
Adams
Kenneth M
KM
Zucker
Robert A
RA
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000437:Alcoholism / Q000453:epidemiology*; D002648:Child; D016241:Child of Impaired Parents / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D003072:Cognition Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology*; D006801:Humans; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011930:Reaction Time; D012307:Risk Factors; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires