Neurocognitive development of preschool children born small for gestational age

FANG Yuru; MENG Qiutong; SHAN Yanchun; RAN Ni; YANG Zhaochuan; YI Mingji

doi:10.11852/zgetbjzz2024-0658

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Chinese Journal of Child Health Care ›› 2025, Vol. 33 ›› Issue (6) : 614-618. DOI: 10.11852/zgetbjzz2024-0658

Original Articles

Neurocognitive development of preschool children born small for gestational age

FANG Yuru, MENG Qiutong, SHAN Yanchun, RAN Ni, YANG Zhaochuan, YI Mingji

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Abstract

Objective To investigate the neurocognitive development of small-for-gestational-age(SGA) children in the preschool period, and to compare it with that of full-term appropriate-for-gestational-age(AGA) children, so as to provide basis for promoting early development of SGA children. Methods From October 2020 to March 2024, 49 SGA children aged 4 to <7 years who underwent health examinations at the Child Health Care Department of The Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University were enrolled as study subjects. Based on whether their current height reached the 10th percentile of normal children of the same age and gender, children were divided into catch-up growth group(n=24) and non-catch-up growth group(n=25). Additionally, 29 full-term AGA children matched by age and gender with the case group were included as the control group. The full-scale scores and five primary index scores of the Wechsler Preschool and Primary Scale of Intelligence - Fourth Edition(WPPSI-Ⅳ) were compared among the three groups. Results Significant differences in total IQ were observed among the three groups(F=8.967, P<0.05). Specifically, the control group(114.07±12.21) scored higher than the catch-up growth group(103.96±11.36) and the non-catch-up growth group(100.52±13.21)(P<0.05). However, no significant difference was found between the catch-up growth group and the non-catch-up growth group in terms of the total IQ(P>0.05). Among the five primary indices, significant differences were found in verbal comprehension(F=15.077), working memory(F=4.065), and processing speed(F=18.864) among the three groups(P<0.05). Notably, the non-catch-up growth group scored lower in verbal comprehension, working memory, and processing speed than both the catch-up growth group and the control group(P<0.05). The catch-up growth group scored lower than the control group in verbal comprehension and processing speed(P<0.05). Conclusions The overall neurocognitive development of SGA children lags behind that of full-term AGA children in the preschool period. Catch-up growth is beneficial to the verbal comprehension ability of SGA children and has a positive effect on executive functions, including working memory and processing speed.

Key words

small for gestational age / neurocognitive development / catch-up growth / Wechsler Preschool and Primary Scale of Intelligence-Ⅳ

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FANG Yuru, MENG Qiutong, SHAN Yanchun, RAN Ni, YANG Zhaochuan, YI Mingji. Neurocognitive development of preschool children born small for gestational age[J]. Chinese Journal of Child Health Care. 2025, 33(6): 614-618 https://doi.org/10.11852/zgetbjzz2024-0658

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