Neuropsychological Functioning in Girls with Premature Adrenarche

• Type of Material: Article
• Authors: A. Tissot, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center; L. D. Dorn, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center; D. Rotenstein, Pediatric Alliance; S. R. Rose, University of Cincinnati; L. M. Sontag-Padilla, RAND Corporation; C. L. Jillard, Medical University of South Carolina; S. F. Witchel, Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh; S.L. Berga, Emory University; Tammy Loucks, Emory University; S. R. Beers, University of Pittsburgh
• Language: English
• Date: 2012-01-01
• Publisher: Cambridge University Press (CUP): PDF Allowed SR
• Publication Version: Author Accepted Manuscript (After Peer Review)
• Copyright Statement: Copyright © 2011 INS. Published by Cambridge University Press.
• Final Published Version (URL): http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/S135561771100138X
• Title of Journal or Parent Work: Journal of the International Neuropsychological Society
• ISSN: 1355-6177
• Volume: 18
• Issue: 1
• Start Page: 151
• End Page: 156
• Grant/Funding Information: This project was supported in part by the NIMH R01 MH59892 to Dr. Dorn; by an Institutional Clinical and Translational Science Award, NIH/NCRR Grant Number 1UL1RR026314, to Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Research Foundation; by an Institutional Clinical and Translational Science Award, NIH/NCRR Grant Number UL1RR024153, to Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh; by funds from the Bureau of Health Professions (BHPr), Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS), through a National Research Service Award Training Grant (T32HP10027; PI: Kristen Copeland, M.D.).
• Keywords: Life Sciences & Biomedicine; Endocrine system diseases; ADOLESCENCE; Psychology; ON-TIME ADRENARCHE; BRAIN; Sexual development; Science & Technology; MEMORY; MATURATION; Neurosciences; DIFFERENTIATION; Sex characteristics; Puberty; Neuropsychological tests; HORMONES; Clinical Neurology; Neurosciences & Neurology; Psychiatry; Social Sciences; Adrenal cortex hormones; COGNITION; CHILDREN
• Research Categories: Biology, Neuroscience; Health Sciences, Medicine and Surgery

Abstract

Contemporary research indicates that brain development occurs during childhood and into early adulthood, particularly in certain regions. A critical question is whether premature or atypical hormone exposures impact brain development (e.g., structure) or function (e.g., neuropsychological functioning). The current study enrolled 40 girls (aged 6-8 years) diagnosed with premature adrenarche (PA) and a comparison group of 36 girls with on-time maturation. It was hypothesized that girls with PA would demonstrate lower IQ and performance on several neuropsychological tasks. The potential for a sexually dimorphic neuropsychological profile in PA was also explored. No significant univariate or multivariate group differences emerged for any neuropsychological instrument. However, effect size confidence intervals contained medium-sized group differences at the subscale level. On-time girls performed better on verbal, working memory, and visuospatial tasks. Girls with PA showed improved attention, but not a sexually dimorphic profile. These results, though preliminary, suggest that premature maturation may influence neuropsychological functioning.