Janina R. Galler|Cyralene P. Bryce|Miriam L. Zichlin|Garrett M. Fitzmaurice|G. David Eaglesfield|Deborah P. Waber
Infant Malnutrition Is Associated with Persisting Attention Deficits in Middle Adulthood
Judge Baker Children's Center|Harvard University|Barbados Community College|Barbados Community College|Judge Baker Children's Center|Harvard University|McLean Hospital|Harvard University|Judge Baker Children's Center|Harvard University|Boston Children's Hospital|Harvard University
infantile malnutrition known associated cognitive behavioral impairment childhood adolescence data pertaining longerterm effects behavioral outcomes adulthood limited study report associations infantile malnutrition attention problems adults midlife attention problems assessed conners adult adhd rating scales caars conners continuous performance test cpt 145 barbadian adults aged 3743 followed longitudinally since childhood previously malnourished participants n 80 experienced moderate severe proteinenergy malnutrition first year life successfully rehabilitated thereafter compared healthy adults n 65 former classmates index cases matched age sex handedness childhood multiple regression analyses showed persisting effects childhood malnutrition caars cpt independent effects household standard living assessed childhood malnutrition effect caars ratings independent iq whereas effect attenuated cpt adjustment iq teacherreported attention problems childhood predicted attention problems adulthood indicating continuity life span infantile malnutrition may longterm effects attentional processes nearly 40 episode even excellent longterm nutritional rehabilitation independent socioeconomic conditions childhood adolescence finding major public health implications populations exposed early childhood malnutrition