Lower Test Scores Research Articles

B - 71 Neurocognitive and Self-Reported Psychosocial and Behavioural Functioning in Siblings of Individuals with Neurodevelopmental Conditions: a Study Using Remote Self-Administered Testing.

This study compared and explored the neurocognitive profiles of siblings of persons with and without neurodevelopmental conditions (NDCs), and associations between objective test performance and self-reported psychosocial functioning. Siblings of persons with and without NDCs (64 NDC and 64 control siblings; mean age 19.88years, range 11-27years, 73.44% female, 75.78% White Caucasian) completed self-report questionnaires and self-administered computerized neurocognitive tests of executive functioning (EF). Using Bayesian analyses, we examined cross-sectional associations between self-reported psychosocial functioning and cognitive test performance, and predictors of EF over 15months. NDC siblings had poorer working memory, inhibition, attention, and shifting compared to controls, as measured by experimental paradigms on the backward Corsi span, N-Back 2-back task, Stop Signal Task, Sustained Attention to Response Task, and the Wisconsin Card Sorting Test (effect size δ ranging 0.49 to 0.64). Bayesian cross-sectional networks revealed negative emotion reactivity and working memory difficulties were central to the NDC sibling network. Over 15months, poorer EF (k low test scores) was predicted by negative emotion reactivity, sleep problems, and anxiety, over and above effects of age and subclinical autistic and ADHD traits. Siblings of autistic individuals and persons with fetal alcohol spectrum disorder had higher rates of neurocognitive and psychiatric difficulties than other NDCs and controls (Bayes factors >20). Neurocognitive difficulties were associated with transdiagnostic vulnerability to poorer wellbeing in NDC siblings. These findings demonstrate the feasibility of remote online cognitive testing and highlight the importance of individualised prevention and intervention for NDC siblings.

Neurocognitive and self-reported psychosocial and behavioral functioning in siblings of individuals with neurodevelopmental conditions: a study using remote self-administered testing

ABSTRACT Objective This study compared and explored the neurocognitive profiles of siblings of persons with and without neurodevelopmental conditions (NDCs) and associations between objective test performance and self-reported psychosocial functioning. Methods Siblings of persons with and without NDCs (64 NDC and 64 control siblings; mean age 19.88 years, range 11–27 years, 73.44% female, 75.78% White Caucasian) completed self-report questionnaires and self-administered computerized neurocognitive tests of executive functioning (EF). Using Bayesian analyses, we examined cross-sectional associations between self-reported psychosocial functioning and cognitive test performance, and predictors of EF over 15 months. Results NDC siblings had poorer working memory, inhibition, attention, and shifting compared to controls, as measured by experimental paradigms on the backward Corsi span, N-Back 2-back task, Stop Signal Task, Sustained Attention to Response Task, and the Wisconsin Card Sorting Test (effect size δ ranging 0.49 to 0.64). Bayesian cross-sectional networks revealed negative emotion reactivity and working memory difficulties were central to the NDC sibling network. Over 15 months, poorer EF (k low test scores) was predicted by negative emotion reactivity, sleep problems, and anxiety, over and above effects of age and subclinical autistic and ADHD traits. Siblings of autistic individuals and persons with fetal alcohol spectrum disorder had higher rates of neurocognitive and psychiatric difficulties than other NDCs and controls (Bayes factors >20). Conclusions Neurocognitive difficulties were associated with transdiagnostic vulnerability to poorer wellbeing in NDC siblings. These findings demonstrate the feasibility of remote online cognitive testing and highlight the importance of individualized prevention and intervention for NDC siblings.

Policy Solutions: Was the LeBron James school a false promise?

LeBron James’ I Promise School in Akron, Ohio, attracted attention recently for its low test scores for 8th-grade students. Unlike other philanthropic schools. I Promise is neither a private school nor a charter school. Instead, it is part of the Akron Public Schools system and is governed by the school board. Columnist Jonathan E. Collins writes that I Promise is part of the school system and can’t be separated from it. While flawed, school boards are the best way to create a strong and equitable education system and make democracy better. School boards and the districts they govern allow for school improvement at a structural level. They also allow for the public to have a say in the school system, through elections and opportunities for dialogue around how to improve individual schools as parts of a larger system.

Detecting cognitive decline in high-functioning older adults: The relationship between subjective cognitive concerns, frequency of high neuropsychological test scores, and the frontoparietal control network.

Neuropsychologists have difficulty detecting cognitive decline in high-functioning older adults because greater neurological change must occur before cognitive performances are low enough to indicate decline or impairment. For high-functioning older adults, early neurological changes may correspond with subjective cognitive concerns and an absence of high scores. This study compared high-functioning older adults with and without subjective cognitive concerns, hypothesizing those with cognitive concerns would have fewer high scores on neuropsychological testing and lower frontoparietal network volume, thickness, and connectivity. Participants had high estimated premorbid functioning (e.g., estimated intelligence ≥75th percentile or college-educated) and were divided based on subjective cognitive concerns. Participants with cognitive concerns (n = 35; 74.0 ± 9.6 years old, 62.9% female, 94.3% White) and without cognitive concerns (n = 33; 71.2 ± 7.1 years old, 75.8% female, 100% White) completed a neuropsychological battery of memory and executive function tests and underwent structural and resting-state magnetic resonance imaging, calculating frontoparietal network volume, thickness, and connectivity. Participants with and without cognitive concerns had comparable numbers of low test scores (≤16th percentile), p = .103, d = .40. Participants with cognitive concerns had fewer high scores (≥75th percentile), p = .004, d = .71, and lower mean frontoparietal network volumes (left: p = .004, d = .74; right: p = .011, d = .66) and cortical thickness (left: p = .010, d = .66; right: p = .033, d = .54), but did not differ in network connectivity. Among high-functioning older adults, subjective cognitive decline may correspond with an absence of high scores on neuropsychological testing and underlying changes in the frontoparietal network that would not be detected by a traditional focus on low cognitive test scores.

Comparison of maternal, fetal, obstetric and neonatal outcomes for 234 triplet pregnancies conceived in vivo versus IVF and ICSI conceptions

Research questionTriplet pregnancies have increased due to the rise in assisted reproductive techniques (ART). The objective of this study is to compare the results of natural versus ART triplet pregnancies. DesignThis is a single-center, retrospective cohort study that includes all triplet pregnancies followed up on at the La Paz University Hospital between 2000 and 2022. The characteristics of the pregnant women, maternal, fetal, obstetric, and perinatal outcomes were examined. Univariate and multivariate statistical analyses were performed. Results234 triplet pregnancies were analyzed: 92 triplet pregnancies in the spontaneous and artificial insemination conception group (natural conception) and 142 triplet pregnancies in the in vitro fertilization and intracytoplasmic sperm injection conception group (ART conception). Between 2000 and 2010, ART pregnancies were more frequent (p<0.01). The monochorionic triamniotic percentage was significantly higher (p<0.01) in the spontaneous group and the dichorionic triamniotic percentage (p=0.02) was higher in the ART group. After adjusting for confounders, the intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR) (p=0.01) result remained statistically significant with OR=8.65(1.66-45-03), being more frequent in the ART group. Maternal age (p=0.61; OR=1.08(0.99-1.18)) threatened preterm labor (p=0.10), Apgar test ≤5 at 5-minutes (p=0.99), pH<7.20 (p=0.99) and fetal death (p=0.99) differences disappearing upon adjustment for confounders. ConclusionTriplet pregnancies by ART had a higher rate of IUGR than natural triplet pregnancies. This could be related to the higher maternal age and the higher rates of lower Apgar test scores at 5-minutes and umbilical cord pH <7.20 in these pregnancies. In these cases, placental examination could provide valuable information.

School segregation, student achievement, and educational attainment in Hungary

Using large-scale administrative data from Hungary, we examine the effects of attending a high-poverty school in Grade 8 on academic achievement and later educational attainment, using a matching approach. We find that attending a high-poverty school is negatively associated with reading scores and secondary education attainment, while there is no significant association with math scores. Estimates are negative in the case of higher education enrollment, but their statistical significance depends on model specification. We find suggestive evidence that attending a high-poverty school has a large direct negative effect on educational attainment, over and above the indirect effect through lower test scores. This suggests that the negative effect of high-poverty schools on students’ noncognitive skills and later educational choices can be as important as the effect on achievement.

Rapid increase in the body mass index of very preterm infants is a risk factor for iron deficiency during infancy

Iron deficiency (ID) in very preterm infants born at 28–32 weeks of gestational age (GA) can lower mental and motor test scores. This study aimed to determine whether the rapid growth of very preterm infants might be associated with ID. Among 134 very preterm born between January 2014 and December 2020 at Jeonbuk National University Hospital and discharged home, 93 were included in this study. Rapid BMI increase (RBI) was defined as a z-score difference of > 1 standard deviation between birth and 8 months. ID occurred in 23 of 93 (24.7%) infants at 8 months of corrected age (CA). ID was more common in the RBI group (50%) than in the non-RBI group (18.7%). In the multivariate logistic regression corrected for GA, infants small for gestational age (SGA) (odds ratio [OR] 6.06, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.34–30.21) and RBI by z-score (OR 4.26, 95% CI 1.28–14.65) were identified as independent risk factors for ID at 8 months of CA. Conclusively, both SGA and RBI in the early life of very preterm were risk factors for ID at 8 months of CA.

Human Alcohol-Microbiota Mice have Increased Susceptibility to Bacterial Pneumonia.

Preclinical studies have shown that chronic alcohol abuse leads to alterations in the gastrointestinal microbiota that are associated with behavior changes, physiological alterations, and immunological effects. However, such studies have been limited in their ability to evaluate the direct effects of alcohol-associated dysbiosis. To address this, we developed a humanized alcohol-microbiota mouse model to systematically evaluate the immunological effects of chronic alcohol abuse mediated by intestinal dysbiosis. Germ-free mice were colonized with human fecal microbiota from individuals with high and low Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test (AUDIT) scores and bred to produce human alcohol-associated microbiota or human control-microbiota F1 progenies. F1 offspring colonized with fecal microbiota from individuals with high AUDIT scores had increased susceptibility to Klebsiella pneumoniae and Streptococcus pneumoniae pneumonia, as determined by increased mortality rates, pulmonary bacterial burden, and post-infection lung damage. These findings highlight the importance of considering both the direct effects of alcohol and alcohol-induced dysbiosis when investigating the mechanisms behind alcohol-related disorders and treatment strategies.

Body composition and muscle strength at the end of ICU stay are associated with 1-year mortality, a prospective multicenter observational study

After a prolonged intensive care unit (ICU) stay patients experience increased mortality and morbidity. The primary aim of this study was to assess the prognostic value of nutritional status, body mass composition and muscle strength, as assessed by body mass index (BMI), bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA), handgrip (HG) test, and that of the biological features to predict one-year survival at the end of a prolonged ICU stay. This was a multicenter prospective observational study. Survivor patients older than 18 years with ICU length of stay >72h were eligible for inclusion. BIA and HG were performed at the end of the ICU stay. Malnutrition was defined by BMI and fat-free mass index (FFMI). The primary endpoint was one-year mortality. Multivariable logistic regression was performed to determine parameters associated with mortality. 572 patients were included with a median age of 63 years [53.5; 71.1], BMI of 26.6kg/m2 [22.8; 31.3], SAPS II score of 43 [31; 58], and ICU length of stay of 9 days [6; 15]. Malnutrition was observed in 142 (24.9%) patients. During the 1-year follow-up after discharge, 96 (18.5%) patients died. After adjustment, a low HG test score (aOR=1.44 [1.11; 1.89], p=0.01) was associated with 1-year mortality. Patients with low HG score, malnutrition, and Albuminemia <30g/L had a one-year death rate of 41.4%. Conversely, patients with none of these parameters had a 1-year death rate of 4.1%. BIA to assess FFMI, HG and albuminemia at the end of ICU stay could be used to predict 1-year mortality. Their ability to identify patients eligible for a structured recovery program could be studied.

Decreased Cognitive Function in Danish Children with Epilepsy.

Children with epilepsy have a significantly increased risk of cognitive impairment. EpiTrack Junior is a screening tool developed for fast assessment of cognitive function in children with epilepsy. The tool is validated for German children. This cohort study aims to investigate the differences in cognitive function between healthy Danish children and Danish children diagnosed with epilepsy METHODS: The cognitive function of 204 healthy controls and 90 children and adolescents diagnosed with epilepsy was examined using EpiTrack Junior. The participants of the control group were aged 6 to 16 years. The patients were aged 6 to 20 years. Statistical analyses were performed with the use of SPSS Statistics. The control group showed significantly higher scores than the patient group in three of six subtests and total test scores (p-values ranging from 0.033 to <0.001). When grouped according to the EpiTrack Junior guidelines, more patients showed scores "below average" or "poor" compared to the control group. The age-corrected total score was not associated with antiepileptic drug treatment (p-value of 0.732) nor with a history of focal seizures (p-value of 0.215). A history of generalized tonic-clonic seizures (GTCS) was associated with a higher EpiTrack Junior score (p-value of 0.035). The patient group showed statistically significant lower test scores compared to the control group confirming the relationship between impaired cognitive function and childhood epilepsy. Furthermore, a correlation between a higher EpiTrack Junior score and the presence of GTCS was found. Focal seizures and antiepileptic drug treatment were not associated with the EpiTrack Junior score.

The Association of Selected GWAS Reported AD Risk Loci with CSF Biomarker Levels and Cognitive Decline in Slovenian Patients.

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is the most common neurodegenerative disease, with a complex genetic background. Apart from rare, familial cases, a combination of multiple risk loci contributes to the susceptibility of the disease. Genome-wide association studies (GWAS) have identified numerous AD risk loci. Changes in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) biomarkers and imaging techniques can detect AD-related brain changes before the onset of clinical symptoms, even in the presence of preclinical mild cognitive impairment. In this study, we aimed to assess the associations between SNPs in well-established GWAS AD risk loci and CSF biomarker levels or cognitive test results in Slovenian patients with cognitive decline. The study included 82 AD patients, 28 MCI patients with pathological CSF biomarker levels and 35 MCI patients with normal CSF biomarker levels. Carriers of at least one polymorphic TOMM40 rs157581 C allele had lower Aβ42 (p = 0.033) and higher total tau (p = 0.032) and p-tau181 levels (p = 0.034). Carriers of at least one polymorphic T allele in SORCS1 rs1358030 had lower total tau (p = 0.019), while polymorphic SORCS1 rs1416406 allele was associated with lower total tau (p = 0.013) and p-tau181 (p = 0.036). In addition, carriers of at least one polymorphic T allele in BCHE rs1803274 had lower cognitive test scores (p = 0.029). The study findings may contribute to the identification of genetic markers associated with AD and MCI and provide insights into early disease diagnostics.

Utility of amyloid PET Imaging in a Memory Clinic.

There is greater interest in amyloid biomarker for the diagnosis of Alzheimer disease (AD) with the recent Food and Drug Administration approval of amyloid-targeted therapy. The goal of this study was to assess the clinical utility of amyloid positron emission tomography (PET) in clinically ambiguous cases of cognitive impairment by examining outcomes of patients enrolled in the Imaging Dementia-Evidence of Amyloid Scanning study at 2 academic institutions. Of the 112 patients in the study, 66.1% (n=74) of patients had a positive amyloid PET scan, and 33.96% (n=38) had a negative amyloid PET scan. Lower cognitive test scores were predictive of positive amyloid PET scan ( P =0.001). Eighty-two percent (92/112) of the patients were seen for follow-up. Of the 30 patients with negative amyloid PET scan results, 90% had a diagnosis of non-AD etiology after receiving the negative results, suggesting a negative amyloid scan can be used to rule out AD diagnosis.

The association between parental separation at the school level and student outcomes in four European Countries

This paper re-examines the role of the school share of separated families with new data, new countries, and a broader set of outcomes. Past studies in the US have shown that the share of students from separated families has a negative effect on students’ test scores. Using data on 16,468 students and their parents in 471 secondary schools in England, Germany, the Netherlands and Sweden, multilevel models were estimated to assess the effects of the demographic composition of schools on student outcomes while simultaneously exploring the role of school disadvantages and school-level social capital. Findings showed that students had lower reading test scores, displayed poorer behavior in school, and had more problem behaviors outside of school, when a larger share of the students in school came from separated families. The associations were to some extent explained by associated school disadvantages but social capital at the school level did not explain the associations. The adverse effects of the school context on behavior inside and outside of school were stronger for girls than for boys but the effects on reading were similar. There were also country differences, the most noteworthy being that context effects as well as gender differences therein were absent in Sweden.

Small-for-Gestational-Age and Vocabulary and Achievement Test Scores at Age 9 Among Children Born at Term in a Contemporary U.S. Sample.

Children that are small-for-gestational-age (SGA) at birth are at an increased risk for cognitive impairment, even if born at term (37-41weeks). This study examined associations between sex-specific SGA and vocabulary and achievement tests in 9 year oldchildren born at term using a contemporary population-based US sample. A secondary data analysis was conducted on a sample of 2144 children born at term in 1998-2000 who participated in a US birth cohort study that oversampled non-marital births, which in the U.S.are associated with socioeconomic disadvantage and racial minority status. Vocabulary and achievement tests were administered to participants at age 9. Unadjusted and adjusted Ordinary Least Squares and logistic regression models of associations between SGA and test scores were estimated. Sex-specific SGA was associated with 2-5 point lower test scores and 1-2 times the odds of scores less than 85 (> 1 SD below the national mean) across most outcomes. In adjusted models, measures ofSGA were associated with low scores on the Woodcock-Johnson Applied Problems test (OR 2.257; 95% CI 1.434, 3.551) and the Woodcock-Johnson Passage Comprehension test (OR 1.554; 95% CI 1.132, 2.134). The findings validate previous studies of SGA at term and cognitive outcomes and provide further evidence using a contemporary high-risk population-based US sample. The findings suggest that SGA children born at term should be recruited for early interventions to promote improved cognitive functioning in school.

Political Turnover Negatively Affects the Quality of Public Services: A Replication

The politically motivated replacement in local governments is a pervasive fact in our modern democracies. Whether it has causal effects on the quality of public services, such as education, is a critical question and yet understudied. This paper uses a regression discontinuity design (RDD) for close elections to replicate Akthari, Moreira and Trucco (2022) who find negative effects on the quality of public education in Brazil (.05-.08 standard deviations of lower test scores). I first reproduce these main results, finding minor computational differences that have no effect on the conclusions. I also show that the estimates for Brazil are in general robust to different specifications following Brodeur, Cook and Heyes (2020). Finally, I implement the same RDD framework now applied to Chilean administrative records to find null effects on test scores. Taken together, these results suggest that political turnover has weakly negative effects on service quality.

A Movement Rises to Change the Teaching of Reading: Low Test Scores Fuel Demands for Change

A Movement Rises to Change the Teaching of Reading: Low Test Scores Fuel Demands for Change

PENINGKATAN HASIL BELAJAR MENGGUNAKAN MODEL PROBLEM BASED LEARNING PADA PELAJARAN BAHASA INDONESIA KELAS III B SDN PANDEANLAMPER 03 SEMARANG

The background of this research is the condition of class III B students at SDN Pandeanlamper 03 Semarang, who are known to have poor learning outcomes for Indonesian subjects due to the low daily test scores in semester II of the 2022/2023 academic year. The average score is below KKM 70. The aim of the research is to find out the increase in student learning outcomes by using the Problem Based Learning learning model. The learning model used in this Classroom Action Research (CAR) is Problem Based Learning which is carried out during the second cycle. The research subjects were class III B students at SDN Pandeanlamper 03 Semarang with a total of 29 students. The application of the Problem Based Learning learning model can improve student learning outcomes in Indonesian subjects. In the pre-cycle students achieved better learning outcomes of 17.24%. While in Cycle I, learning outcomes increased to 34.48%. And in cycle II managed to experience an increase in learning outcomes of 75.86%. In the context of this statement, it can be seen that the Problem Based Learning learning model can improve and improve student learning outcomes from pre-cycle to cycle II.

#2702 ANALYSIS OF IMMUNOSUPPRESSANT ADHERENCE, TREATMENT PREFERENCES AND NEEDS, AND MENTAL HEALTH DISORDERS IN THE POST-TRANSPLANTATION PERIOD

Abstract Background and Aims Medical treatment after kidney transplantation is not enough to assure optimal outcomes due to emotional factors that contribute on graft survival. To incorporate patient´s treatment preferences in clinical practice improves health outcomes. Few is known about treatment preferences and needs of kidney transplant population. The aims of the study were to quantify mental health disorders prevalence, immunosuppressive adherence, treatment preferences and needs of Spanish kidney transplant patients in post-transplantation period. Method Transversal-observational study in stable kidney transplant patients from one center in Madrid-Spain. Demographics, social-clinical variables, validated questionaries for anxiety, depression, stress, resilience, life satisfaction and quality of life related with health, and an ad-hoc survey of treatment preferences and needs were applied. Results A total of 116 patients were included, 25% had mental health pathology before transplant. Mental health disorders prevalence for depression, anxiety and stress were 26%, 27% and 23.3% respectively. Life satisfaction screening revealed only 29% of patients very satisfied with life. Patients with lower scores in mental health tests were significatively related with poor immunosuppressive adherence (P = .004). Treatment preferences and needs identified were how to improve physical condition (47%), information for anxiety and/or depression management (37%), and to receive psychological therapy from Nephrology Service (95%). See Table 1 and 2 for results. Conclusion Mental health disorders prevalence in Spanish kidney transplanted patients were high and had a negative impact in immunosuppressive adherence. This demands a biopsychosocial, interdisciplinary, focused on patient´s treatment preferences approach, individually and in groups from Nephrology Service.

Investigating Arts Education Effects on School Engagement and Climate

There is a renewed focus on what constitutes a well-rounded education, as well as a growing interest in broader indicators of educational success, including social and emotional development and school engagement. However, identifying educational practices that improve such outcomes has proven elusive. We explore the role of arts education on a broad range of educational outcomes using administrative and survey data from Boston’s public schools. We find that students receiving the arts in school attend more, are more engaged, and their parents and teachers are more likely to participate and be engaged at school, with larger effects for students with individualized education plans, students with lower standardized test scores, and students with a history of chronic absenteeism. These findings call attention to the pivotal role of the arts in providing students with socially and emotionally supportive learning environments that enhance relationships between students and schools.

Higher frailty levels are associated with lower cognitive test scores in a multi-country study: evidence from the study on global ageing and adult health.

Frailty has been recognized as a growing issue in older adults, with recent evidence showing that this condition heralds several health-related problems, including cognitive decline. The objective of this work is to determine if frailty is associated with cognitive decline among older adults from different countries. We analyzed the baseline the Study on Global Ageing and Adult Health (SAGE), that includes six countries (Ghana, South Africa, Mexico, China, Russia, and India). A cross-section analysis was used to assess how Frailty was related with the Clinical Frailty Scale decision tree, while cognitive decline was evaluated using standardized scores of tests used in SAGE. A total of 30,674 participants aged 50 years or older were included. There was an association between frailty levels and cognitive performance. For example, women had an inverse relationship between frailty levels and cognitive scores, even when comparing robust category with frailty level 2 (RRR = 0.85; p = 0.41), although the relative risks decrease significantly at level 3 (RRR = 0.66; p = 0.03). When controlling for age, the relative risks between frailty levels 4 to 7 significantly decreased as cognitive performance increased (RRR = 0.46, RRR = 0.52, RRR = 0.44, RRR = 0.32; p < 0.001). Our results show an association between frailty levels measured in a novel way, and cognitive decline across different cultural settings.