The Chornobyl accident and cognitive functioning: a follow-up study of infant evacuees at age 19 years.
The Chornobyl accident and cognitive functioning: a follow-up study of infant evacuees at age 19 years.
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切尔诺贝利事故和认知功能：对 19 岁婴儿撤离者的后续研究。
DOI：
10.1017/s0033291707002462
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发表时间：
2008
影响因子：
6.9
通讯作者：
Bromet,EJ
中科院分区：
文献类型：
--
作者：
Taormina,DP;Rozenblatt,S;Guey,LT;Gluzman,SF;Carlson,GA;Havenaar,JM;Zakhozha,V;Kotov,R;Bromet,EJ
切尔诺贝利核泄漏后暴露在辐射中的婴儿的认知和学业成绩一直备受争议。西方的调查表明，没有发生不良反应，但当地的研究报告说，与未接触的儿童相比，接触的儿童认知障碍增加。我们最初的研究发现，在11岁时，被疏散到基辅的300名婴儿或子宫内儿童的学习成绩和神经心理表现与300名对照同学相似，但更多被疏散的母亲认为她们的孩子有记忆问题。本研究重新考察了儿童在19岁时的表现和学业成绩。方法2005-2006年，我们对1997年在基辅评估的撤离者（265人）和对照组（261人）进行了8年的随访。结果包括大学出勤率、智力、注意力和记忆力测试以及对记忆问题的主观评价。采用以当地人口为基础的对照组（n=327）对评分进行标准化。分析按父母教育程度分层。结果受试者与同学各项指标表现相似，均在正常范围内，未见差异性颞叶变化。结果与子宫内亚样本相似。大学出勤率和自我报告的记忆问题也相似。然而，与控制组相比，被疏散的母亲报告自己的孩子有记忆问题的可能性几乎是对照组的三倍。结论切尔诺贝利对暴露婴儿的认知功能没有影响，但更多的疏散母亲仍然认为他们的后代有记忆问题。这些挥之不去的担忧反映了事故造成的更广泛的健康担忧。
BackgroundThe cognitive and academic outcomes of infants exposed to radiation after the meltdown at Chornobyl have been intensely debated. Western-based investigations indicate that no adverse effects occurred, but local studies reported increased cognitive impairments in exposed compared with non-exposed children. Our initial study found that at age 11 years, school grades and neuropsychological performance were similar in 300 children evacuated to Kiev as infants or in utero compared with 300 classmate controls, yet more evacuee mothers believed that their children had memory problems. This study re-examined the children's performance and academic achievement at age 19 years.MethodIn 2005–2006, we conducted an 8-year follow-up of the evacuees (n=265) and classmate controls (n=261) assessed in Kiev in 1997. Outcomes included university attendance, tests of intelligence, attention, and memory, and subjective appraisals of memory problems. Scores were standardized using a local population-based control group (n=327). Analyses were stratified by parental education.ResultsEvacuees and classmates performed similarly and in the normal range on all tests, and no differential temporal changes were found. The results were comparable for the in utero subsample. The rates of university attendance and self-reported memory problems were also similar. Nevertheless, the evacuee mothers were almost three times as likely to report that their children had memory problems compared with controls.ConclusionsChornobyl did not influence the cognitive functioning of exposed infants although more evacuee mothers still believed that their offspring had memory problems. These lingering worries reflect a wider picture of persistent health concerns as a consequence of the accident.