Intelligence Quotient Of Children Research Articles

White matter microarchitecture and structural network integrity correlate with children intelligence quotient

The neural substrate of high intelligence performances remains not well understood. Based on diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) which provides microstructural information of white matter fibers, we proposed in this work to investigate the relationship between structural brain connectivity and intelligence quotient (IQ) scores. Fifty-seven children (8–12 y.o.) underwent a MRI examination, including conventional T1-weighted and DTI sequences, and neuropsychological testing using the fourth edition of Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children (WISC-IV), providing an estimation of the Full-Scale Intelligence Quotient (FSIQ) based on four subscales: verbal comprehension index (VCI), perceptual reasoning index (PRI), working memory index (WMI), and processing speed index (PSI). Correlations between the IQ scores and both graphs and diffusivity metrics were explored. First, we found significant correlations between the increased integrity of WM fiber-bundles and high intelligence scores. Second, the graph theory analysis showed that integration and segregation graph metrics were positively and negatively correlated with WISC-IV scores, respectively. These results were mainly driven by significant correlations between FSIQ, VCI, and PRI and graph metrics in the temporal and parietal lobes. In conclusion, these findings demonstrated that intelligence performances are related to the integrity of WM fiber-bundles as well as the density and homogeneity of WM brain networks.

Anxiety and intellectual functioning in autistic children: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Autistic children experience higher levels of anxiety than their peers. Making appropriate diagnoses of anxiety disorders and providing effective treatment for these children is particularly difficult. Inconsistent evidence suggests that levels of anxiety in autistic children are related to intellectual functioning. We provide the first meta-analysis of this evidence. A systematic search identified 49 papers for review. These papers included measures of anxiety and intelligence quotient in 18,430 autistic children. Studies employing correlations showed evidence of a significant relationship between intelligence quotient and anxiety in autistic children: children with higher intelligence quotient scored higher on measures of anxiety. Studies directly comparing groups of autistic children with and without intellectual disability also supported this conclusion. Most studies employing other designs also supported this finding. Employing a quality assessment framework identified common threats to validity. Many studies used measures of anxiety that were not validated across the samples they measure. This was most notable for those autistic children with an intellectual disability. It is vital that future research determines whether the identified relationship between intelligence quotient and anxiety reflects something important in the mechanism for anxiety in autistic children, or quantifies the lack of sensitivity of our measures of anxiety across different groups.Lay abstractAutistic children often experience higher levels of anxiety than their peers. It can be difficult to diagnose and treat anxiety disorders in autistic children, in part because of the high degree of variability in their underlying abilities and presentations. Some evidence suggests that autistic children with higher intelligence (as measured by intelligence quotient) experience higher levels of anxiety than autistic children with lower intelligence. However, the evidence is inconsistent, with other papers not finding a difference or finding higher levels of anxiety in autistic children with lower intelligence. In this article, we review existing literature to see whether autistic children with higher intelligence quotients have higher anxiety than autistic children with lower intelligence quotients. A systematic search of the literature was conducted which identified 49 papers on the topic. The methods of all the papers were reviewed using an objective quality assessment framework. When combining the data statistically, there was evidence that autistic children with higher intelligence quotients are more anxious than autistic children with lower intelligence quotients. The quality review raised common weaknesses across studies. Most importantly, few studies used measures of anxiety that have been shown to be valid for children with very low intelligence quotients. Similarly, many studies used measures of anxiety that have not been shown to be valid for autistic children. These factors are important because autistic children and those with low intelligence quotient may experience or understand anxiety differently. Future research should use fully validated measures to test whether high intelligence quotient is associated with high levels of anxiety in autistic children.

Associations between surrounding residential greenness and intelligence quotient in 6-year-old children

BackgroundResidential greenness has been reported to be positively associated with health benefits for children, including improved cognitive function. We investigated the association between the intelligence quotient (IQ) of 6-year-old children in Seoul, South Korea and surrounding greenness currently and during the mothers' pregnancy. We also analyzed whether these effects differed by the type of greenness, such as natural or built greenness. MethodsThis study considered 189 mother-child dyads from the Environment and Development of Children Cohort study, who lived in Seoul during the prenatal period and when the child was 6 years old. We defined surrounding greenness using Landsat image data from Korean Arirang satellite images with buffers within 100 m – 2000 m of the radius of each participant's residential address. We separately analyzed two types of greenness, namely natural and built greenness. The children's IQ (total, verbal, and performance IQ) was measured using the Korean Educational Developmental Institute's Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children. ResultsPrenatal exposure to built greenness in 500 m and 1000 m buffers was associated with children's total IQ in a full model [difference in IQ (95% CI): 3.46(0.68, 6.24) and 3.42 (0.53, 6.31) per interquartile increase in proportion of greenness]. However, postnatal exposure to built greenness in all buffers was associated in children's total IQ. We found a stronger association between children's total IQ and built greenness rather than natural greenness. ConclusionsWe found that 6-year-old children tended to score higher on total IQ if they lived in greener neighborhoods. The results provide further evidence of the health benefits of greenness and provide support for urban planning and public health to build healthy urban cities for children and pregnant women.

Systematic Review of Fluoride Exposure and Neurodevelopmental and Cognitive Health Effects

Background: People of all ages are exposed to fluoride from a variety of sources including dental products, drinking water, food, beverages and pharmaceuticals. In some developed countries, fluoride is added to municipal water systems to prevent tooth decay. Methods: The National Toxicology Program (NTP) conducted a systematic review of the human, experimental animal, and mechanistic literature to evaluate the evidence and develop hazard conclusions about whether fluoride exposure is associated with neurodevelopmental and cognitive effects. Results: The literature search and screening process identified 185 published human studies, 339 published experimental animal studies, and 60 in vitro/mechanistic studies. Conclusion: Although draft conclusions were reached by integrating evidence from human and animal studies with consideration of relevant mechanistic data, the conclusions are based primarily on the human evidence. The body of human evidence provides a consistent pattern of findings, across several different populations, that high fluoride exposure is associated with lower intelligence quotient (IQ) in children. These consistent findings are based primarily on studies with higher levels of fluoride exposure (i.e., >1.5 ppm in drinking water). When focusing on findings from studies with exposures in ranges typically found in the United States (approximately 0.03 to 1.5 ppm in drinking water) that can be evaluated for dose response, effects on cognitive neurodevelopment are inconsistent, and therefore unclear. There is inadequate evidence to determine whether fluoride exposure lowers IQ or impairs cognitive function in adults. The evidence from animal studies is inadequate to inform conclusions on cognitive effects, and the mechanisms underlying fluoride-associated cognitive neurodevelopmental effects are not well characterized. The NTP will develop hazard conclusions for children and adults on a 4-level scale for hazard classification (“known”, “presumed”, “suspected”, “not classifiable”). Keywords: Fluoride, exposure, systematic review, epidemiology.

Impact of Lead Exposure on Thyroid Status and IQ Performance among School-age Children Living Nearby a Lead-Zinc Mine in China

BackgroundLead exposure is one of the most concerning public health problems worldwide, particularly among children. Yet the impact of chronic lead exposure on the thyroid status and related intelligence quotient performance among school-age children remained elusive. ObjectiveThe aim of this study was to evaluate the influence of lead exposure on the thyroid hormones, amino acid neurotransmitters balances, and intelligence quotient (IQ) among school-age children living nearby a lead-zinc mining site. Other factors such as rice lead levels, mothers’ smoking behavior, and diet intake were also investigated. MethodsA total of 255 children aged 7-12 years old were recruited in this study. Blood lead level (BLL), thyroid hormones including free triiodothyronine (FT3), free thyroxine (FT4) and thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH), and amino acid neurotransmitters such as glutamate (Glu), glutamine (Gln), and γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA) were measured using graphite furnace atomic absorption spectroscopy (GFAAS), chemiluminescence immunoassay, high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). Raven's standard progressive matrices (SPM) and the questionnaire were used to determine IQ and collect related influence factors. ResultsThe average BLL of children was 84.8 μg/L. The occurrence of lead intoxication (defined as the BLL ≥ 100 μg/L) was 31.8%. Serum TSH levels and IQ of lead-intoxicated children were significantly lower than those without lead toxicity. The GABA level of girls with the lead intoxication was higher than those with no lead-exposed group. Correlation analyses revealed that BLL were inversely associated with the serum TSH levels (R= -0.186, p < 0.05), but positively related with IQ grades (R = 0.147, p < 0.05). Moreover, BLL and Glu were inversely correlated with IQ. In addition, this study revealed four factors that may contribute to the incidence of lead intoxication among children, including the frequency of mother smoking (OR = 3.587, p < 0.05) and drinking un-boiled stagnant tap water (OR = 3.716, p < 0.05); eating fresh fruits and vegetables (OR = 0.323, p < 0.05) and soy products regularly (OR = 0.181, p < 0.05) may protect against lead intoxication. ConclusionLead exposure affects the serum TSH, GABA levels and IQ of school-aged children. Developing good living habits, improving environment, increasing the intake of high-quality protein and fresh vegetable and fruit may improve the condition of lead intoxication.

Subclinical hypothyroidism in pregnancy: controversies on diagnosis and treatment.

The negative impact of even subtle maternal thyroid hormone deficiency on the pregnancy outcome and intellectual development of the progeny has been known for many years, but unfortunately the diagnosis and treatment of subclinical hypothyroidism in pregnant women still evokes controversies. Due to physiological changes in thyroid function and thyroid hormones metabolism during pregnancy, the trimester‑specific reference ranges for thyroid‑stimulating hormone (TSH) and free thyroid hormones should be established. However, because of interassay variability and other confounders including ethnicity and iodine intake, such norms are reliable only for local populations and a specific laboratory method. In turn, the fixed reference ranges suggested by endocrine societies may carry a risk of misclassificating some healthy pregnant women to be hypothyroid. The effect of levothyroxine treatment on pregnancy and children's cognitive outcomes remains unclear. Therapeutic benefits in decreasing miscarriage and preterm delivery rates were observed when intervention was held in the first trimester in women with a TSH level between 2.5 to 10 mU/l, mainly higher than or equal to 4 mU/l. The possible harmful effect of treatment includes preterm delivery, gestational diabetes, hypertension, and pre‑eclampsia. The only 3 prospective, randomized, placebo‑controlled trials evaluating the efficacy of levothyroxine therapy on children's intelligence quotient were started in the second trimester, which may be too late to demonstrate differences between treatment and placebo groups. Awaiting the results of future trials, clinicians should be aware of the fact that low‑dose levothyroxine at a daily dose of 25 to 50 µg is probably not harmful and may be beneficial, but the routine implementation of the therapy in each pregnant women with a TSH level exceeding 2.5 mU/l seems too premature.

Relational Operant Skills Training Increases Standardized Matrices Scores in Adolescents: A Stratified Active-Controlled Trial

In recent years, small-scale studies have suggested that we may be able to substantially strengthen children's general cognitive abilities and intelligence quotient (IQ) scores using a relational operant skills training program (SMART). Only one of these studies to date has included an active Control Condition, and that study reported the smallest mean IQ rise. The present study is a larger stratified active-controlled trial to independently test the utility of SMART training for raising Non-verbal IQ (NVIQ) and processing speed. We measured personality traits, NVIQs, and processing speeds of a cohort of school pupils (aged 12–15). Participants were allocated to either a SMART intervention group or a Scratch computer coding control group, for a period of 3 months. We reassessed pupils’ NVIQs and processing speeds after the 3-month intervention. We observed a significant mean increase in the SMART training group’s (final nexp = 43) NVIQs of 5.98 points, while there was a nonsignificant increase of 1.85 points in the Scratch active-control group (final ncont = 27). We also observed an increase in processing speed across both conditions (final nexp = 70; ncont = 55) over Time. Our results suggest that relational skills training may be useful for improving performance on matrices tasks, and perhaps in future, accelerating children’s progression toward developmental milestones.

Associations of birth size, infancy, and childhood growth with intelligence quotient at 5 years of age: a Danish cohort study

ABSTRACTBackgroundThe correlates of prenatal and postnatal growth on Intelligence Quotient (IQ) in childhood in term-born children living in high-income countries are not well known.ObjectivesWe examined how birth size and growth in infancy and childhood were associated with IQ at age 5 y in term-born children using path analysis.MethodsThe study sample comprised 1719 children from the Danish National Birth Cohort who participated in a substudy in which psychologists assessed IQ using the Wechsler Primary and Preschool Scales of Intelligence–Revised. Measured weight, length/height, and head circumference at birth, 5 mo, 12 mo, and 5 y were included in a path model to estimate their total, indirect, and direct effects on IQ. All growth measures were included in the model as sex- and age-standardized z-scores.ResultsAfter adjusting for potential confounders, a positive association between birth weight and IQ was observed, and 88% of the association was direct. Weight gain in infancy was associated with IQ [per z-score increase from 5 to 12 mo, IQ increased by 1.53 (95% CI: 0.14; 2.92) points] whereas weight gain from 12 mo to 5 y was not associated with IQ. Height and head circumference growth in childhood was associated with IQ [per z-score increase from 12 mo to 5 y, IQ increased by 0.98 (95% CI: 0.17; 1.79) and 2.09 (95% CI: 0.78; 3.41) points, respectively].ConclusionsIn children born at term in an affluent country with free access to health care, higher IQ was seen with greater size at birth and greater weight gain in infancy. Also, greater growth in height and head circumference throughout the first 5 y of life was associated with higher childhood IQ whereas greater weight gain after the first year of life was not.

Impact of low-level mercury exposure on intelligence quotient in children via rice consumption

Wanshan is a city in southwest China that has several inactive mercury (Hg) mines. The local population are exposed to methylmercury (MeHg) due to the consumption of Hg contaminated rice. The relationship between Hg exposure and the cognitive functions of local children is unknown. This study investigated the relationship between hair Hg concentrations and the intelligence quotient (IQ) of 314 children aged 8-10 years, recruited from three local primary schools in Wanshan area in 2018 and 2019. IQ was evaluated using Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children - Fourth Edition (WISC-IV). The average THg concentration in children's hair samples was 1.53μgg-1 (range: 0.21-12.6μgg-1), and 65.6% exceeded the United States Environment Protection Agency (USEPA) recommended value of 1μgg-1. Results of logistic regression analysis showed that children with hair Hg≥1μgg-1 were 1.58 times more likely to have an IQ score <80, which is the clinical cut-off for borderline intellectual disability (R2=0.20, p=0.03). Increasing of 1μgg-1 hair Hg resulted in 1 point of IQ loss in Wanshan children, which was.much higher than that via fish consumption. The economical cost due to Hg exposure was estimated to be $69.8 million (9.43% of total GDP) in the Wanshan area in 2018.

190-OR: Impact of Prenatal Exposure to Maternal Obesity and Child Physical Activity Levels on Neurocognition

Prenatal exposure to maternal obesity is linked to neurocognitive deficits in offspring. In contrast, engaging in physical activity (PA) is beneficial for cognition and brain development. We aimed to determine if greater PA is associated with higher intelligence quotient (IQ) scores and greater brain white matter integrity in children born to mothers with a range of pre-pregnancy BMI. Ninety-nine children (59 girls) ages 7-13 years completed the study. Maternal pre-pregnancy BMI was obtained from electronic medical records. Wechsler Abbreviated Scale of Intelligence was used to measure IQ. Diffusion tensor imaging was used to measure mean global fractional anisotropy (FA), a marker of white matter integrity. Time spent in moderate-to-vigorous PA (MVPA) and vigorous PA (VPA) was assessed using 3-day PA recalls. Linear regressions were used to assess whether maternal pre-pregnancy BMI or child MVPA and VPA were associated with child IQ scores and global FA. Maternal pre-pregnancy BMI ranged from 19.0-54.0 kg/m2 (43% obese). Mean±SD child IQ was 106.4±14.0, MVPA was 132.8±95.4 min/day, and VPA was 19.0±27.1 min/day. Maternal pre-pregnancy BMI was negatively associated with child IQ scores (β=-0.31; p=0.10); this marginal association remained after adjusting for child age, sex, puberty, BMI z-score, and socioeconomic status (β=-0.42; p=0.095). MVPA was not associated with child IQ (β=2.63; p=0.16). However, children who spent more time in VPA had higher IQ scores before (β=7.05; p=0.003) and after adjusting for the same co-variates (β=5.65; p=0.024) and further adjusting for maternal pre-pregnancy BMI (β=5.01; p=0.049). Children who spent more time in VPA also had greater mean global FA (unadjusted: β=0.01; p=0.017; adjusted: β=0.01; p=0.005). These findings suggest that engaging in VPA is beneficial for cognition and white matter microstructure in children, independent of maternal pre-pregnancy BMI. Disclosure J. Alves: None. B.C. Angelo: None. S.H. Luo: None. T. Chow: None. A.G. Yunker: None. A. Xiang: None. K.A. Page: None. J. Zink: None. B.R. Belcher: None. K. Clark: None. Funding American Diabetes Association (1-14-ACE-36 to K.A.P.); National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (R01DK116858); National Institute of Mental Health (F31MH115640)

The relationships between thyroid-stimulating hormone and/or dopamine levels in peripheral blood and IQ in children with different urinary iodine concentrations

Environmental iodine deficiency or excess can lead to inappropriate iodine nutrition in the population. Little research has been performed to determine whether changes in thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) and/or dopamine (DA) concentrations in peripheral blood are involved in intellectual impairment caused by inappropriate iodine nutrition. 498 children aged 7-12 from areas with different water iodine concentrations were included in the study. Children's intelligence and levels of urinary iodine and fluoride, TSH, free triiodothyronine (FT3), free thyroxine (FT4), and DA were evaluated. The relationship between TSH and/or DA levels and intelligence quotient (IQ) in all participants and in the population with different urinary iodine concentrations (UIC) was evaluated by multivariate regression analysis. The proportion of people with low average and lower intelligence in UIC ≥ 300 μg/L group was significantly higher than that in control group but only a positive correlation was found between DA and IQ in the population with UIC < 100 μg/L (bootstrapped estimation P = 0.032). TSH and/or DA in peripheral blood may be not involved in the progressive decline in intelligence caused by iodine excess but DA had positive correlation with intelligence in iodine deficiency group, and no relationship between TSH concentration and IQ was found in the general population or in different UIC groups.

Abnormal Functional Connectivity Density in New-Onset Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus Children: A Resting-State Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging Study.

Type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM) causes cognitive changes in children, which may be due to deficits in brain functions. It is unclear whether T1DM children will have brain functional changes during the initial stage of the disease. We aimed to investigate the changes in the functional brain network topology in children with new-onset T1DM. In this study, 35 new-onset T1DM children and 33 age-, sex-matched healthy controls underwent resting-state fMRI. The whole brain functional connectivity density (FCD) analysis and seed-based functional connectivity (FC) analysis were performed to investigate the changes in functional brain networks in new-onset T1DM children when compared with the controls. Pearson correlational analysis was used to explore the correlation between FCD value of differential brain areas and clinical variables in T1DM children. Compared with the controls, children with new-onset T1DM exhibited significantly decreased FCDs of the right inferior temporal gyrus (ITG) and the right posterior cingulate cortex (PCC). In the subsequent FC analysis, decreased FC was found between right PCC and right cuneus and increased FC was found between right ITG and left orbital part of inferior frontal gyrus in children with new-onset T1DM compared to the controls. The FCD values of right ITG and PCC did not correlate with HbA1c, blood glucose level before imaging, and full-scale intelligence quotient (IQ) in T1DM children. These results revealed that T1DM affect the functional activity of the immature brain at the initial stage. These findings also indicate a decrease in regional brain function and abnormalities in temporal-frontal and limbic-occipital circuitry in children with new-onset T1DM, and highlight the effects of T1DM on children's brain networks involved in visual process and memory, which may contribute to the cognition impairments observed in children with T1DM.

Mercury concentration and fatty acid composition in muscle tissue of marine fish species harvested from Liaodong Gulf: An intelligence quotient and coronary heart disease risk assessment

Marine fish species are an important source of biologically valuable proteins, fats, fat-soluble vitamins, and n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids, but they are also susceptible to pollutants. Mercury is liable to bioamplify in the aquatic food chain, and the health risks posed by methylmercury (MeHg) could undermine the benefits of eating fish, so risk-benefit assessments are needed for those fish species regularly consumed. The purpose of this study was to analyze the concentrations of mercury and characteristics of fatty acids in marine fish harvested from Liaodong Gulf, China, so as to better understand the risk-benefit effects of marine fish consumption. We found that the ratio of MeHg to total Hg (THg) was normally distributed. The concentrations of THg and MeHg in marine fish muscles (14 species, a total of 239) ranged from 0.920 to 0.288 μg/g and 0.050 to 0.192 μg/g, respectively. There were no significant interannual differences in the muscles' concentrations of MeHg and THg, or of their fatty acids (p > 0.05). The proportion of total saturated fatty acids (SFAs) and monounsaturated fatty acids (MUFAs) varied significantly among different marine fish-feeding habits (predacious, omnivorous, benthivorous and planktivorous), but the differences between polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) were not significant, which may be due to the undistinguished fatty acids (p < 0.05). The risk-benefit assessment using the intelligence quotient (IQ) scoring model revealed that all the studied marine fish had positive effects on child IQ under different consumption scenarios. Additionally, the integrated risk-benefit analysis for adult cardiovascular health showed that all the studied marine fish, but especially Ditrema temmincki Bleeker, are capable of reducing the relative cardiovascular risk posed by the MeHg in the fish. We conclude the positive effects of eating common marine fish from the Liaodong Gulf far outweigh their negative ones.

Prenatal exposure to mixture of heavy metals, pesticides and phenols and IQ in children at 7 years of age: The SMBCS study

ObjectivePrenatal exposure to heavy metals, pesticides and phenols has been suggested to interfere with neurodevelopment, but the neurotoxicity of their mixtures is still unclear. We aimed to elucidate the associations of maternal urinary concentrations of selected chemical mixtures with intelligence quotient (IQ) in children. MethodsMaternal urinary concentrations of selected heavy metals, pesticide metabolites, and phenols were quantified in pregnant women who participated in the Sheyang Mini Birth Cohort Study (SMBCS) from June 2009 to January 2010. At age 7 years, child’s IQ score was assessed using the Chinese version of Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children (C-WISC) by trained pediatricians. Generalized linear regression models (GLM), Bayesian kernel machine regression (BKMR) models and elastic net regression (ENR) models were used to assess the associations of urinary concentrations individual chemicals and their mixtures with IQ scores of the 7-year-old children. ResultsOf 326 mother-child pairs, single-chemical models indicated that prenatal urinary concentrations of lead (Pb) and bisphenol A (BPA) were significantly negatively associated with full intelligence quotient (FIQ) among children aged 7 years [β = −2.31, 95% confidence interval (CI): −4.13, −0.48; p = 0.013, sex interaction p-value = 0.076; β = −1.18, 95% CI: −2.21, −0.15; p = 0.025; sex interaction p-value = 0.296, for Pb and BPA, respectively]. Stratified analysis by sex indicated that the associations were only statistically significant in boys. In multi-chemical BKMR and ENR models, statistically significant inverse association was found between prenatal urinary Pb level and boy’s FIQ scores at 7 years. Furthermore, BKMR analysis indicated that the overall mixture was associated with decreases in boy’s IQ when all the chemicals’ concentrations were at their 75th percentiles or higher, compared to at their 50th percentiles. ENR models revealed that maternal urinary Pb levels were statistically significantly associated with lower FIQ scores (β = −2.20, 95% CI: −4.20, −0.20; p = 0.031). ConclusionsPrenatal exposure to selected chemical mixtures may affect intellectual performance at 7 years of age, particularly in boys. Pb and BPA were suspected as primary chemicals associated with child neurodevelopment.

Prenatal β-Hexachlorocyclohexane (β-HCH) Exposure and 7-Year Child IQ in the CHAMACOS Birth Cohort

Fetal and infant exposures to β-hexachlorocyclohexane (β-HCH) occur through placental and breastmilk transfers. No studies have examined the relationship between β-HCH and child intelligence quotient (IQ). This study examined associations between in utero β-HCH exposure and cognitive development in 7-year-old children. Data from women and children (n= 256) participating in the Center for the Health Assessment of Mothers and Children of Salinas (CHAMACOS) birth cohort study were evaluated. We assessed exposure to β-HCH by measuring maternal serum concentration during pregnancy. We administered the Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children (WISC), Fourth Edition, to children at age 7. Analyses were adjusted for maternal age, country of birth, work status, parity, and other pesticide exposures, language used for child cognitive assessment, and duration of breastfeeding. Higher serum β-HCH concentrations were associated with higher cognitive scores across all unadjusted models for the full-scale and sub-scale cognitive tests. In the adjusted models, a 10-fold increase in serum β-HCH concentration was associated with a 4.5-point increase in Working Memory IQ score (95% CI, 0.6 to 8.3; p= 0.02). We observed no significant interaction by length of breastfeeding or sex on associations. Our findings suggest that prenatal exposure to β-HCH is not adversely related to IQ at age 7 in a cohort of Mexican American children with fairly high exposure in utero as measured by maternal serum levels. Future research must replicate these findings in other study cohorts of women and children.

Dermatoglyphics as a Novel Method for Assessing Intelligence Quotient in Children Aged 5-11 Years: A Cross-sectional Study.

AimTo measure the IQ and record dermatoglyphic patterns of children including intellectually disabled aged between 5 years and 11 years and to correlate them.Materials and methodsThe present study was a cross-sectional study conducted in two private schools in the city corporation limits. A total of 300 children aged between 5 years and 11 years were equally allocated into three groups based on IQ using covariate adaptive randomization. IQ of the children was measured using Raven's Coloured Progressive Matrices. Bilateral palmar and finger prints were obtained on A4-size papers by ink method using rolling technique. Prints thus obtained were analyzed for dermatoglyphic variables using magnification lens and are read based on Cummins and Midlo classification for fingertip patterns and Bali and Chaube classification for palmar flexion creases. The data were entered and statistically analyzed. For statistical significance, a two-tailed probability value of less than 0.05 was taken as significant.ResultsThe current study suggests a relationship between different fingertip patterns of digits of I, II, III, and IV of left and right hand and also digit V of right hand with various levels of IQ.ConclusionHence, dermatoglyphics can be considered as a preliminary noninvasive approach for the determination of IQ. Also, it plays an imperative role, especially in distinguishing genetic intellectual disabilities.How to cite this articleTharay N, Nirmala SVSG, Bavikati VN, et al. Dermatoglyphics as a Novel Method for Assessing Intelligence Quotient in Children Aged 5–11 Years: A Cross-sectional Study. Int J Clin Pediatr Dent 2020;13(4):355–360.

Academic performance and intelligence quotient of primary school children in Enugu.

Introductionintellectual capacity measured as intelligence quotient (IQ) is one of the determinants of school performance of children. It influences academic achievement, future personal health, social well-being and therefore, is of public health significance. The objective of the study was to determine the intelligence quotient (IQ) and academic performance of primary school children in Enugu-East LGA.Methodschildren who met the inclusion criteria were recruited from both public and private primary schools in the Local Government Area (LGA) using a proportionate multistage sampling technique. Academic performance was classified into high, average and low academic using past records of class assessment. Intelligence quotient was assessed using the Raven´s Standard Progressive Matrices (RSPM) and was grouped into optimal and suboptimal. A semi-structured questionnaire was used to obtain data such as-age, gender, socio-economic indices and family size of the study participants. Analysis was done with Statistical Package for Social Sciences (IBM-SPSS).Resultsa total of 1,122 pupils aged 6 to 12 years were recruited. Optimal IQ and high academic performance were found in 54.0% and 58.8% of the study participants. Being from upper social class, in private school, and family size less than 4 were the significant determinants of high IQ and good academic performance (p<0.001).Conclusionlow socio-economic status, large family size and public school attendance impact negatively on IQ and academic performance. Hence, measures to curb large family sizes (i.e.>4 children) and improve the socio-economic status of families are needed environmental measures to improve intelligence and academic performance.

The effect of Adenotonsillectomy in Intelligence Quotient in children with Obstructive Sleep Apnea

The effect of Adenotonsillectomy in Intelligence Quotient in children with Obstructive Sleep Apnea

Reliability and validity of teacher ratings on the Adapted Skillstreaming Checklist for children with autism spectrum disorder.

This study assessed the reliability and criterion-related validity of teacher ratings on the Adapted Skillstreaming Checklist for a sample of 133 children, aged 6-11 years, with autism spectrum disorder (without intellectual disability). Internal consistency for the total sample was 0.93. For a subsample, test-retest reliability was very good (r = 0.74; intraclass correlation coefficient = 0.85) at a 9-month interval. Child age, intelligence quotient, language abilities, and sex were not associated with the Adapted Skillstreaming Checklist total score. The Adapted Skillstreaming Checklist total score was inversely and strongly related to teacher ratings of autism spectrum disorder symptom severity. Significant positive correlations (moderate-to-high) were found between the Adapted Skillstreaming Checklist and prosocial skills scales and significant negative correlations (low-to-moderate) with problem behavior scales on a broad measure of child functioning. Implications and suggestions for future study are discussed.

Coordination difficulties, IQ and psychopathology in children with high-risk copy number variants.

The prevalence and impact of motor coordination difficulties in children with copy number variants associated with neurodevelopmental disorders (ND-CNVs) remains unknown. This study aims to advance understanding of motor coordination difficulties in children with ND-CNVs and establish relationships between intelligence quotient (IQ) and psychopathology. 169 children with an ND-CNV (67% male, median age = 8.88 years, range 6.02-14.81) and 72 closest-in-age unaffected siblings (controls; 55% male, median age = 10.41 years, s.d. = 3.04, range 5.89-14.75) were assessed with the Developmental Coordination Disorder Questionnaire, alongside psychiatric interviews and standardised assessments of IQ. The children with ND-CNVs had poorer coordination ability (b = 28.98, p < 0.001) and 91% of children with an ND-CNV screened positive for suspected developmental coordination disorder, compared to 19% of controls (OR = 42.53, p < 0.001). There was no difference in coordination ability between ND-CNV genotypes (F = 1.47, p = 0.184). Poorer coordination in children with ND-CNV was associated with more attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) (β = -0.18, p = 0.021) and autism spectrum disorder trait (β = -0.46, p < 0.001) symptoms, along with lower full-scale (ß = 0.21, p = 0.011), performance (β = -0.20, p = 0.015) and verbal IQ (β = 0.17, p = 0.036). Mediation analysis indicated that coordination ability was a full mediator of anxiety symptoms (69% mediated, p = 0.012), and a partial mediator of ADHD (51%, p = 0.001) and autism spectrum disorder trait symptoms (66%, p < 0.001) as well as full scale IQ (40%, p = 0.002), performance IQ (40%, p = 0.005) and verbal IQ (38%, p = 0.006) scores. The findings indicate that poor motor coordination is highly prevalent and closely linked to risk of mental health disorder and lower intellectual function in children with ND-CNVs. Future research should explore whether early interventions for poor coordination ability could ameliorate neurodevelopmental risk.