Executive Functions in Very-Low-Birth-Weight Young Adults: A Comparison between Self-report and Neuropsychological Test Results

Executive functions are goal-directed control mechanisms that modulate the operation of other cognitive processes. Preterm born very-low-birth-weight (VLBW: birth weight < 1500 grams) children have more problems with attention/executive function than their term born peers. The objective of this study is to examine if VLBW young adults had more self-reported attention/executive problems and lower neuropsychological test results than controls. Furthermore, to investigate the relationship between self-reported attention/executive problems, general cognitive ability (IQ) and test results. Forty-two VLBW [mean birth weight 1237 (219) grams, and gestational age 29.3 (2.4) weeks] and 63 term born controls at age 19 years completed The BRIEF-A self-report of attention/executive functions in everyday life. The Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale PI was used to obtain IQ scores; subtests from Delis-Kaplan were used to assess attention/executive function. There were no differences between the VLBW young adults and controls on any of the BRIEF-A measures, but the VLBW subjects had lower scores on 8 of the 18 neuropsychological subtests (p <.01). Some correlations between BRIEF-A and the Stroop and TMT tests were found in the VLBW group. VLBW young adults do not report more problems regarding attention/executive function in daily life than controls despite lower results on several neuropsychological tests.