title: Height-based Indices of Pubertal Timing in Male Adolescents.
abstract: It is important to account for timing of puberty when studying the adolescent brain and cognition. The use of classical methods for assessing pubertal status may not be feasible in some studies, especially in male adolescents. Using data from a sample of 478 males from a longitudinal birth cohort, we describe the calculations of three independent height-based markers of pubertal timing: Age at Peak Height Velocity (APHV), Height Difference in Standard Deviations (HDSDS), and Percent Achieved of Adult Stature (PAAS). These markers correlate well with each other. In a separate cross-sectional study, we show that the PAAS marker correlates well with testosterone levels and self-reported pubertal-stage scores. We conclude by discussing key considerations for investigators when drawing upon these methods of assessing pubertal timing.
authors.affiliation: Rotman Research Institute and Institute of Medical Science, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada.
authors.forename: Ammar
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Khairullah
authors.affiliation: School of Social and Community Medicine, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK.
authors.forename: Margaret T
authors.initials: MT
authors.lastname: May
authors.affiliation: School of Social and Community Medicine, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK.
authors.forename: Kate
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Tilling
authors.affiliation: School of Social and Community Medicine, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK.
authors.forename: Laura D
authors.initials: LD
authors.lastname: Howe
authors.affiliation: Montreal Neurological Institute, McGill University, Canada.
authors.forename: Gabriel
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Leonard
authors.affiliation: University of Quebec in Chicoutimi, Chicoutimi, Quebec, Canada ; ECOBES, Research and transfert, CEGEP Jonquière, Jonquière, Quebec, Canada.
authors.forename: Michel
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Perron
authors.affiliation: University of Quebec in Chicoutimi, Chicoutimi, Quebec, Canada.
authors.forename: Louis
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Richer
authors.affiliation: University of Quebec in Chicoutimi, Chicoutimi, Quebec, Canada ; ECOBES, Research and transfert, CEGEP Jonquière, Jonquière, Quebec, Canada.
authors.forename: Suzanne
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Veillette
authors.affiliation: Hospital for Sick Children University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada.
authors.forename: Zdenka
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Pausova
authors.affiliation: Rotman Research Institute and Institute of Medical Science, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada.
authors.forename: Tomáš
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Paus
keywords: ALSPAC; Males; Saguenay Youth Study; height; pubertal timing; testosterone