title: The impact of late preterm birth on executive function at preschool age.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Very preterm birth (< 32 weeks' gestation) affects cognitive development. The impact of late preterm birth (34 to 36 weeks' gestation) on cognition, specifically executive function, is not fully characterized. The aim of this study was to assess whether late preterm children demonstrate impaired executive function compared with full-term children (38 to 42 weeks' gestation).
  
  
  METHODS
  This was a prospective cohort study of 4-year-old children. Preterm (n = 39) and full-term children (n = 44) completed a battery of executive function tasks and the Peabody Picture Vocabulary Test-4. Parents completed the Behavior Rating Inventory of Executive Function-Preschool version.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Preterm children performed worse on the verbal inhibitory control (p = 0.02) and short-term verbal memory (p = 0.01) tasks. Gestational age predicted performance on the verbal inhibitory control (p = 0.02) and short-term verbal memory (p = 0.04) tasks. There was no group difference in nonverbal inhibitory control (p = 0.45) or spatial memory (p = 0.60). Parents of preterm and full-term children rated their children's behavior similarly (p = 0.79).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Late preterm children demonstrated compromised verbal inhibitory control and short-term verbal memory compared with full-term peers. Late preterm children may not be spared from altered brain development. Further research is indicated to determine whether to screen late preterm children for executive function deficits.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics, Iowa City, Iowa.
authors.forename: Jane E
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Brumbaugh
authors.affiliation: Institute of Child Development, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota.
authors.forename: Amanda S
authors.initials: AS
authors.lastname: Hodel
authors.affiliation: Institute of Child Development, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota.
authors.forename: Kathleen M
authors.initials: KM
authors.lastname: Thomas
mesh_terms: D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002657:Child Development / Q000502:physiology*; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003072:Cognition Disorders / Q000503:physiopathology*; D015331:Cohort Studies; D056344:Executive Function / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D005865:Gestational Age; D006801:Humans; D007234:Infant, Premature / Q000523:psychology*; D007266:Inhibition, Psychological; D007807:Language Tests; D008297:Male; D008570:Memory, Short-Term / Q000502:physiology*; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D011446:Prospective Studies