O-059 Impaired Executive Functions In Complex Tasks In Children And Adolescents Born Very Preterm

Abstract

Introduction: Many studies have found impaired performance in executive functions (EF) in patients formerly born very preterm (VPT) [1]. Most evidence derives from studies in early and middle childhood. EF play a pivotal role for academic achievement and personal autonomy. Demands in both domains and, in parallel, the dependence on EF ability continuously increase in later childhood and adolescence [2]. This study therefore aims to investigate the pattern of EF deficits in older children and adolescents born very preterm and to compare them with healthy term-born peers. Methods: Forty-one VPT children and adolescents (age: M = 12.9 [SD = 1.7, range = 10.4-16.6] years) with normal general cognitive abilities and 38 healthy term-born (TB) peers (age: M = 12.7 [SD = 1.8, range = 10.0-16.9] years) were examined. Various EF components (i.e., planning, inhibition, working memory, cognitive flexibility) were assessed with a computer-based test battery (Cambridge Neuropsychological Testing Automated Battery, CANTAB). Additionally, parents reported on their children's EF ability in the school and home environment using the Behavior Rating Inventory of Executive Functions, BRIEF (German version). Results: Mixed-model ANOVAs with birth status (VPT vs. TB) as between-subjects factor and difficulty levels of EF tasks as withinsubject factor revealed a significant interaction between birth status and difficulty level for planning ability (F(3, 231) = 3.120, p = .03), working memory, (F(2, 154) = 2.307, p = .10) and inhibition (F(3, 216) = 3.946, p = .03): Performance of VPT and TB participants was comparable in lower difficulty levels but poorer for VPT participants in higher difficulty levels. Parents of VPT participants rated EF abilities of their children poorer than parents of TB participants (e.g., global EF ability: t(78) = 3.002, p = 0.004) with more VPT participant's scores lying above the cut-off for clinically relevant EF problems (chi2 (1) = 7.671, p = .006). Conclusions: Executive function deficits persist into adolescence in VPT patients with normal general cognitive ability. Particularly, when tasks become more complex, VPT participants experience more EF difficulties than their peers. As EF demands become increasingly more complex in later childhood and adolescence, EF deficits may hinder optimal development in former VPT patients.