title: Universal gestational age effects on cognitive and basic mathematic processing: 2 cohorts in 2 countries.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine whether general cognitive ability, basic mathematic processing, and mathematic attainment are universally affected by gestation at birth, as well as whether mathematic attainment is more strongly associated with cohort-specific factors such as schooling than basic cognitive and mathematical abilities.
  
  
  METHODS
  The Bavarian Longitudinal Study (BLS, 1289 children, 27-41 weeks gestational age [GA]) was used to estimate effects of GA on IQ, basic mathematic processing, and mathematic attainment. These estimations were used to predict IQ, mathematic processing, and mathematic attainment in the EPICure Study (171 children <26 weeks GA).
  
  
  RESULTS
  For children born <34 weeks GA, each lower week decreased IQ and mathematic attainment scores by 2.34 (95% CI: -2.99, -1.70) and 2.76 (95% CI: -3.40, -2.11) points, respectively. There were no differences among children born 34-41 weeks GA. Similarly, for children born <36 weeks GA, mathematic processing scores decreased by 1.77 (95% CI: -2.20, -1.34) points with each lower GA week. The prediction function generated using BLS data accurately predicted the effect of GA on IQ and mathematic processing among EPICure children. However, these children had better attainment than predicted by BLS.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Prematurity has adverse effects on basic mathematic processing following birth at all gestations <36 weeks and on IQ and mathematic attainment <34 weeks GA. The ability to predict IQ and mathematic processing scores from one cohort to another among children cared for in different eras and countries suggests that universal neurodevelopmental factors may explain the effects of gestation at birth. In contrast, mathematic attainment may be improved by schooling.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, University of Warwick, Coventry, United Kingdom; Warwick Medical School, University of Warwick, Coventry, United Kingdom. Electronic address: D.Wolke@warwick.ac.uk.
authors.forename: Dieter
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Wolke
authors.affiliation: Center for Statistics in Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Vicky Yu-Chun
authors.initials: VY
authors.lastname: Strauss
authors.affiliation: Department of Health Sciences, University of Leicester, Leicester, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Samantha
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Johnson
authors.affiliation: Mathematics Education Center, Loughborough University, Loughborough, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Camilla
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Gilmore
authors.affiliation: University College London, London, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Neil
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Marlow
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, University of Warwick, Coventry, United Kingdom; Department of Developmental Psychology, Ruhr-University Bochum, Bochum, Germany.
authors.forename: Julia
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Jaekel
mesh_terms: D002648:Child; D003071:Cognition; D005260:Female; D005858:Germany; D005865:Gestational Age; D006801:Humans; D007361:Intelligence Tests; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D055641:Mathematical Concepts; D011446:Prospective Studies; D006113:United Kingdom
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