Neuropsychological Executive Functioning in Children at Elevated Risk for Alcoholism: Findings in Early Adolescence. |
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Authors: | Nigg, Joel T. Glass, Jennifer M. Wong, Maria M. Poon, Edwin Jester, Jennifer M. Fitzgerald, Hiram E. Puttler, Leon I. Adams, Kenneth M. Zucker, Robert A. |
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Abstract: | One component of individual risk for alcoholism may involve cognitive vulnerabilities prodromal to alcoholism onset. This prospective study of 198 boys followed between 3 and 14 years of age evaluated neurocognitive functioning across three groups who varied in familial risk for future alcoholism. Measures of intelligence, reward-response, and a battery of neuropsychological executive and cognitive inhibitory measures were used. Executive functioning weaknesses were greater in families with alcoholism but no antisocial comorbidity. IQ and reward-response weaknesses were associated with familial antisocial alcoholism. Executive function effects were clearest for response inhibition, response speed, and symbol-digit modalities. Results suggest that executive deficits are not part of the highest risk, antisocial pathway to alcoholism but that some executive function weaknesses may contribute to a secondary risk pathway. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved) |
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Keywords: | neuropsychological executive functioning alcoholism risk boys neurocognitve functioning familial risk antisocial comorbidity response inhibition response speed symbol digit individual risk |
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