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Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Mental Health

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Open Access 01-12-2019 | Autism Spectrum Disorder | Research article

Executive functioning and neurodevelopmental disorders in early childhood: a prospective population-based study

Authors: D. Louise Otterman, M. Elisabeth Koopman-Verhoeff, Tonya J. White, Henning Tiemeier, Koen Bolhuis, Pauline W. Jansen

Published in: Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Mental Health | Issue 1/2019

Abstract

Background

Executive functioning deficits are common in children with neurodevelopmental disorders. However, prior research mainly focused on clinical populations employing cross-sectional designs, impeding conclusions on temporal neurodevelopmental pathways. Here, we examined the prospective association of executive functioning with subsequent autism spectrum disorder (ASD) traits and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) traits.

Methods

This study included young children from the Generation R Study, a general population birth cohort. The Brief Rating Inventory of Executive Function-Preschool Version was used to assess parent-reported behavioral executive functioning when the children were 4 years old. ASD traits were assessed at age 6 (n = 3938) using the parent-reported Social Responsiveness Scale. The Teacher Report Form was used to assess ADHD traits at age 7 (n = 2749). Children with high scores were screened to determine possible clinical ASD or ADHD diagnoses. We were able to confirm an ASD diagnosis for n = 56 children by retrieving their medical records and established an ADHD diagnosis for n = 194 children using the Diagnostic Interview Schedule for Children-Young Child version (DISC-YC). Data were analyzed using hierarchical linear and logistic regressions.

Results

Impaired executive functioning was associated with more ASD and ADHD traits across informants (for ASD traits and diagnoses: β = 0.33, 95% CI [0.30–0.37]; OR = 2.69, 95% CI [1.92–3.77], respectively; for ADHD traits and diagnoses: β = 0.12, 95% CI [0.07–0.16]; OR = 2.32, 95% CI [1.89–2.85], respectively). Deficits in all subdomains were associated with higher levels of ASD traits, whereas only impaired inhibition, working memory, and planning/organization were associated with more ADHD traits.

Conclusions

The findings of the current study suggest a graded association of executive functioning difficulties along the continuum of ASD and ADHD and that problems in executive functioning may be a precursor of ASD and ADHD traits from an early age onwards.

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Title: Executive functioning and neurodevelopmental disorders in early childhood: a prospective population-based study
Authors: D. Louise Otterman
M. Elisabeth Koopman-Verhoeff
Tonya J. White
Henning Tiemeier
Koen Bolhuis
Pauline W. Jansen
Publication date: 01-12-2019
Publisher: BioMed Central
Keyword: Autism Spectrum Disorder
Published in: Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Mental Health / Issue 1/2019
Electronic ISSN: 1753-2000
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1186/s13034-019-0299-7

Keynote webinar | Spotlight on sleep in brain health

Springer Medicine

Executive functioning and neurodevelopmental disorders in early childhood: a prospective population-based study

Abstract

Background

Methods

Results

Conclusions

Keynote webinar | Spotlight on sleep in brain health

Springer Medicine

Abstract

Background

Methods

Results

Conclusions

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