65 - Neurodevelopmental delay is associated with household income, but modulated by physical activity in young children

Poster Number: 65
Publication Number: 65.202

Steven Hicks, Pennsylvania State University College of Medicine, Hershey, PA, United States; Samuel J. Mackenzie, University of Rochester, Rochester, NY, United States

Background: A recent study of over 2,000 fourth-grade students in Mongolia showed that an exercise intervention could significantly improve academic achievement. It remains unclear whether the neurocognitive benefits of exercise would also be observed in resource rich countries, or whether similar benefits would be seen in younger children.

Objective: The objective of this study was to assess the relationship between neurodevelopment, family income, and exercise in children (grades pre-kindergarten through first). We sought to determine whether exercise was associated with improved neurodevelopment in this age group, and whether this relationship differed based on family income.

Design/Methods: This study included a cohort of 171 children (ages 5-7 years; 85 male; 134 white, 12 black, 13 biracial, 4 Asian, 8 other/unspecified race) who were recruited at annual well child visits to a primary pediatrics clinic, affiliated with an academic medical center in central Pennsylvania. Electronic surveys were used to collect demographic information (age, sex, race). Household income was self-reported as an NIH common data element ($0-25,000, $25-50,000, $50-75000, $75-100,000, or >$100,000 per year). Standardized questionnaires were used to quantify neurodevelopment (Survey of Wellbeing in Young Children; SWYC) and physical activity (Physical Activity Questionnaire for Children; PAQ-C). An analysis of variance with Tukey’s post-hoc test was used to compare both neurodevelopment and physical activity across the five household income groups. Pearson correlation analyses examined relationships between physical activity and neurodevelopment.

Results: Age and physical activity were comparable across children from all income groups. Lower SWYC scores were more frequently observed in children from lower income households (F=4.97; p < 0.001), with 5/10 children from the lowest income group ($0-25k per year) scoring in the “needs review” range on the SWYC (≤15). Increased physical activity correlated with higher SWYC scores across all household incomes (R2=0.216; p < 0.005).Conclusion(s): These data support previous findings that children of lower socioeconomic status are at a higher risk for neurodevelopmental delay. Physical activity may exert a protective effect on development, regardless of socioeconomic status. This demonstrates the need for prospective exercise intervention studies in younger children.
The relationship between neurodevelopment, socioeconomic support, and child exerciseThis study tested the hypothesis that neurodevelopment is negatively impacted by inadequate socioeconomic support, but this effect may be modulated by child exercise (A). In this cohort study of 171 children (ages 5-7 years), higher activity on the Physical Activity Questionnaire was associated with higher neurodevelopmental score on the Survey of Wellbeing in Young Children (SWYC) (B). This trend was observed regardless of family income (denoted by plot color). Children with lower family income (red and tan plots) were more likely to display signs of neurodevelopmental delay (SWYC score ≤ 15).