title: Executive functions in very-low-birth-weight young adults: a comparison between self-report and neuropsychological test results.
abstract: Executive functions are goal-directed control mechanisms that modulate the operation of other cognitive processes. Preterm born very-low-birth-weight (VLBW: birth weight<1500 grams) children have more problems with attention/executive function than their term born peers. The objective of this study is to examine if VLBW young adults had more self-reported attention/ executive problems and lower neuropsychological test results than controls. Furthermore, to investigate the relationship between self-reported attention/executive problems, general cognitive ability (IQ) and test results. Forty-two VLBW [mean birth weight 1237 (219) grams, and gestational age 29.3 (2.4) weeks] and 63 term born controls at age 19 years completed The BRIEF-A self-report of attention/executive functions in everyday life. The Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale III was used to obtain IQ scores; subtests from Delis-Kaplan were used to assess attention/executive function. There were no differences between the VLBW young adults and controls on any of the BRIEF-A measures, but the VLBW subjects had lower scores on 8 of the 18 neuropsychological subtests (p<.01). Some correlations between BRIEF-A and the Stroop and TMT tests were found in the VLBW group. VLBW young adults do not report more problems regarding attention/executive function in daily life than controls despite lower results on several neuropsychological tests.
authors.affiliation: 1Department of Laboratory Medicine,Children's and Women's Health,Norwegian University of Science and Technology,Trondheim,Norway.
authors.forename: Anne Elisabeth
authors.initials: AE
authors.lastname: Sølsnes
authors.affiliation: 1Department of Laboratory Medicine,Children's and Women's Health,Norwegian University of Science and Technology,Trondheim,Norway.
authors.forename: Jon
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Skranes
authors.affiliation: 1Department of Laboratory Medicine,Children's and Women's Health,Norwegian University of Science and Technology,Trondheim,Norway.
authors.forename: Ann-Mari
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Brubakk
authors.affiliation: 1Department of Laboratory Medicine,Children's and Women's Health,Norwegian University of Science and Technology,Trondheim,Norway.
authors.forename: Gro C C
authors.initials: GC
authors.lastname: Løhaugen
mesh_terms: D001288:Attention; D003071:Cognition / Q000502:physiology*; D056344:Executive Function; D005260:Female; D005865:Gestational Age; D006801:Humans; D019102:Infant, Very Low Birth Weight / Q000502:physiology* / Q000523:psychology*; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D009664:Norway; D057566:Self Report; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric; D055815:Young Adult