Aug 2026· Children· Vol 13, pp. 1101· 0 citations· 25 references
Medicine
TL;DR
The study’s confirmatory finding is the FDR-significant association of PIV with age-appropriate WISC-R Verbal performance, which suggests these relationships are best interpreted within a developmental and neuroimmune framework.
Abstract
Background/Objectives: Adolescence is a dynamic neurodevelopmental period during which structured language performance may reflect ongoing biological reorganization processes. This study examined whether inflammatory, nutritional, and hormonal biomarkers were modestly associated with structured language task performance and cognitive performance in healthy pubertal children. Methods: A total of 156 healthy pubertal children (78 female, 78 male; mean age of 11.84 ± 2.98 years) meeting Tanner Stage ≥ 2 were included in this retrospective cross-sectional study. Language was assessed with the Test of Language Development-Primary: Fourth Edition (TOLD-P:4; Turkish adaptation) and cognition with the Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children-Revised (WISC-R). Pan-Immune-Inflammation Value (PIV), Prognostic Nutritional Index (PNI), Neutrophil-to-Lymphocyte Ratio (NLR), vitamin B12, 25-OH vitamin D, ferritin, and TSH were included as biomarkers. Two-block hierarchical OLS regression and Spearman correlations with Benjamini–Hochberg FDR correction were used. Results: The biomarker block provided a statistically significant incremental contribution to the spoken language model (ΔR2 = 0.066, p = 0.041; full model R2 = 0.287). The primary test statistic was ΔR2. In exploratory coefficient-level analyses that were not corrected for multiple comparisons, the PIV (β = +0.17, p = 0.033) and TSH (β = −0.17, p = 0.031) coefficients reached nominal significance. After FDR correction, PIV was positively associated with WISC-R Verbal score (ρ = +0.24, p_FDR = 0.019) and TSH negatively with TOLD-P:4 Speaking (ρ = −0.22, p_FDR = 0.029). Biomarker contribution to WISC-R Full-Scale IQ was non-significant (ΔR2 = 0.049, p = 0.223). Conclusions: At the block level, the biomarker set contributed significantly to the structured spoken-language model but not to the Full-Scale IQ model; however, one of the two FDR-significant bivariate associations involved a verbal cognitive measure (PIV with WISC-R Verbal). Any language-versus-cognition contrast should therefore be interpreted cautiously. The modest effect sizes suggest these relationships are best interpreted within a developmental and neuroimmune framework. Longitudinal and multimodal studies are needed to replicate these findings. Because the TOLD-P:4/TODİL was applied beyond its validated age range (4; 0–8; 11) and its cross-age scoring could not be verified from the retrospective records, all language-based findings are exploratory and require confirmation with an age-validated instrument; the study’s confirmatory finding is the FDR-significant association of PIV with age-appropriate WISC-R Verbal performance. Because the TOLD-P:4/TODİL composite scores could not be verified as comparable across the sample’s age range, all TOLD-P:4-based results reported here are exploratory and hypothesis-generating; the confirmatory analyses rely on the age-appropriate WISC-R outcomes.
Subclinical hypothyroidism (SCH) often presents with nonspecific symptoms that overlap with neurodevelopmental challenges. This study investigated the relationship between SCH and neuropsychological manifestations in overweight/obese youth with developmental coordination disorder (DCD), comparing outcomes against a control group with normal body mass index (BMI).
Thirty-two adolescents (16–18 years) with a BMI ≥ 25 were enrolled. The study group (n = 16) comprised participants with elevated thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH), while the control group (n = 16) had normal TSH levels. DCD was confirmed via the Bruininks-Oseretsky Test of Motor Proficiency (BOTMP-SF). Assessment tools included the Windows-based Word Memory Test (WMT), Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children-IV (WISC-IV), Wechsler Individual Achievement Test-II (WIAT-II) for reading, and Wide Range Assessment of Memory and Learning-II (WRAML-II). Physical activity was monitored using the PAQ-A questionnaire and paedometry. Data were analysed using Spearman correlation and regression.
The control group demonstrated significantly superior cognitive and motor performance compared to the study group. While both groups averaged fewer than 5,000 steps/day, the study group’s mean physical activity was markedly lower. A moderate-to-strong negative monotonic correlation was identified between plasma TSH levels and physical activity (rs = –0.66) within the study group.
While motor and cognitive impairments characterise DCD, remarkable deterioration in these domains – especially when coupled with increased BMI – strongly correlates with elevated TSH. This link suggests that subclinical hypothyroidism may exacerbate DCD manifestations, highlighting the necessity for biochemical screening and modified treatment approaches in managing overweight adolescents with coordination disorders.
H. Mkrtchyan, Iren Hovsepyan, Naira Martirosyan et al.· Human Movement· 0 citations
Cognitive development and intelligence of children are shaped by multifactorial influences, including genetic predisposition, environmental conditions, nutritional status, cognitive stimulation, educational exposure, and overall health status. The average Intelligence Quotient (IQ) of the Indonesian population is 89.96, which is categorized within the average range at the global level. A cross-sectional analytical study was conducted involving 80 school-aged children selected through simple random sampling. IQ was measured using the CFIT administered by child psychologists, while nutritional status was assessed using the WHO BMI-for-age reference. Logistic regression modeling was used to identify significant determinants, followed by ROC curve analysis, Youden Index calculation, and risk score estimation, which was derived from the ratio of each significant predictor to the smallest significant coefficient. Significant associations were observed for screen time (PR = 5.23; 95% CI: 1.49–18.29), history of pneumonia (PR = 3.92; 95% CI: 1.13–13.68), and poor nutritional status (PR = 4.03; 95% CI: 1.34–12.11). The predictive model showed an area under the curve (AUC) of 0.794, with a youden index-derived cut-off of ≥ 2 (95% CI: 0.630–0.882), indicating a threshold for increased risk of low cognitive function among children. Screen time, a history of pneumonia, and poor nutritional status were identified as key predictors of lower cognitive function, with a risk score of ≥ 2 as the threshold. Parental control over digital exposure and the reinforcement of preventive health behaviors are essential components in improving children’s cognitive outcomes.
Whether pubertal timing across the ages of 8–15.5 years was associated with diurnal cortisol slope, the cortisol awakening response, total morning cortisol, and total daily cortisol output at the age of 15.5 years was sought.
A sex-specific protective effect of puberty on MASLD risk in children, with advancing puberty associated with significantly lower odds of MASLD in boys, but not in girls.
Background Early childhood development is shaped by interactions between biological, prenatal, nutritional, and social factors. Evidence regarding their domain-specific associations across ASQ-3 domains remains limited in Eastern Europe. Objectives To examine biological, prenatal, nutritional, and social predictors of developmental outcomes measured with the ASQ-3. Methods This cross-sectional study included 167 full-term Bulgarian children aged 14–42 months. Parents completed age-appropriate ASQ-3 questionnaires and a structured survey on prenatal and family characteristics. Raw ASQ-3 scores were converted into age-standardized Z-scores. Stepwise multiple linear regression analyses were conducted for each domain. Results Longer breastfeeding duration was positively associated with communication, fine motor, and problem-solving outcomes. Prenatal tobacco exposure was associated with lower communication, fine motor, and problem-solving scores. Communication outcomes were additionally associated with residential setting and bilingual home environment. No significant predictors were identified for gross motor development. Conclusions Early developmental domains demonstrate distinct associations with prenatal, nutritional, and social factors.
Tatyana D. Itova· Sage open pediatrics· 0 citations
Background Preterm birth is associated with long-term neurodevelopmental challenges, yet evidence on psychosocial outcomes in Chinese preschool children, particularly in less developed regions, remains scarce. Methods A cross-sectional study was conducted in a western Chinese city from February 28 to March 5, 2025. Using stratified cluster sampling, 20,913 parent–child dyads were recruited from 189 kindergartens. Preterm birth (< 37 weeks gestation) was parent-reported. For the assessment of psychosocial functioning, the Chinese adaptation of the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ) was utilized, with its focus on total difficulties, internalizing problems, externalizing problems and prosocial behavior. Multivariable regression models were used, adjusting for child age and gender, child birth weight, number of children, parental age, parental gender, education level, employment status, marital status, annual family income, smoking status, alcohol intake status, and parental depressive symptoms (CES-D score). Subgroup analyses explored effect modification. Results Of 20,913 children (mean age 4.82 ± 0.89 years), 860 (4.1%) were preterm. After full adjustment, preterm birth was significantly associated with increased odds of total difficulties (OR = 1.32, p = 0.0015), but not with internalizing problems (OR = 1.07, p = 0.4153), externalizing problems (OR = 1.02, p = 0.8083), or prosocial behavior (OR = 0.89, p = 0.1009). Conclusions Preterm birth in preschool children from Western China was associated with higher odds of total difficulties, but not with internalizing problems, externalizing problems, or prosocial behavior after full adjustment. Stratified interaction analyses revealed that these associations differed by alcohol intake status (for total difficulties) and parental education level (for prosocial behavior) after FDR correction.
Hongli Sun, Jia Wang, H. Qiang· Frontiers in Pediatrics· 0 citations
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