Assessment of Executive and Cognitive Functions in Children with Restless Sleep Disorder: A Pilot Study

Restless sleep disorder affects children and is characterized by frequent nocturnal movements, iron deficiency, and daytime symptoms such as poor school performance or behavioral problems. Although sleep parameters have been thoroughly studied and daytime sleepiness has been previously assessed, neu...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Brain sciences 2022-09, Vol.12 (10), p.1289
Main Authors: DelRosso, Lourdes M., Vega-Flores, German, Ferri, Raffaele, Mogavero, Maria P., Diamond, Adele
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Age
Attention
Behavior
Children
Cognition
Cognition & reasoning
Cognitive ability
Daytime
Ethnicity
Executive function
executive functions
Flexibility
Insomnia
Memory
Movement disorders
Nutrient deficiency
Pattern recognition
pediatrics
Restless legs syndrome
restless sleep disorder
selective attention
Sleep and wakefulness
Sleep apnea
Sleep deprivation
Sleep disorders
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Summary:Restless sleep disorder affects children and is characterized by frequent nocturnal movements, iron deficiency, and daytime symptoms such as poor school performance or behavioral problems. Although sleep parameters have been thoroughly studied and daytime sleepiness has been previously assessed, neurocognitive and executive functions have not. In this study, we evaluated neurocognitive functions in a group of 13 children diagnosed with restless sleep disorder using the National Institute of Health Toolbox (NIH toolbox). The mean age was 10.62 (S.D. 2.785). Among them, seven were male and six were female. The fully corrected T-scores (adjusted for demographic variables: age, ethnicity, and education level) showed the lowest values for the Flanker test (selective attention) and dimensional change card sorting test (cognitive flexibility and inhibitory control), with a very large effect size vs. the corresponding expected frequencies. For all the other tests, the average scores were 50; however, individual children scored low on pattern recognition and two composite scores (fluid and total). In conclusion, these data support the fact that cognitive functions are affected in children with restless sleep disorder, especially selective attention. Clinicians must recognize sleep disorders and daytime impairment in order to promptly intervene and prevent cognitive impairments.
ISSN:2076-3425
2076-3425
DOI:10.3390/brainsci12101289