Clinical Neuropsychiatry (2013) 10, 2, 72-78 COGNITIVE PROFILE OF SEVEN YEARS OLD CHILDREN BORN PRETERM WITH WEIGHT BELOW 1500 GRAMS

Objective: The aim of this study was to compare the cognitive development, at the age of seven, of Brazilian children, without global developmental deficits, born preterm at the Hospital das Clínicas/Federal University of Minas Gerais, with gestational age ≤34 weeks and birthweight <1500g, but adequate to the gestational age, with children of the same age who were born full term. Method: Forty-four children underwent neuropsychological tests to assess their intelligence, episodic memory and executive functions. The preterm group was comprised of 22 children with normal neurological exams, and the control group of 22 children born full term. Results: Children born preterm had lower scores than those born full term on measurements of intelligence and planning, which are related to executive function. Conclusions: The results point to the importance of ample investigation of the cognitive capabilities of preterm, even if the children present normal intelligence levels and neurological examination.