Relationship between Apgar scores and long-term cognitive outcomes in individuals with Down syndrome

Sci Rep. 2021 Jun 16;11(1):12707. doi: 10.1038/s41598-021-90651-3.

Abstract

This study examined the contribution of the Apgar score at 1 and 5 min after birth to later cognitive functioning in 168 individuals with Down syndrome who were between 6 and 25 years of age at time of cognitive testing. Our results showed that a lower Apgar score at 1 min was related to a worse performance in later cognitive measures of receptive vocabulary, verbal comprehension and production, visual memory and working memory. Results also showed that a lower Apgar score at 5 min was only related to worse later outcomes of verbal comprehension and production and auditory working memory. Our findings suggest a need for future studies investigating how specific perinatal events reflected in the Apgar score are linked to later cognitive functioning in individuals with Down syndrome.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Apgar Score*
  • Child
  • Cognition*
  • Comprehension
  • Down Syndrome / psychology*
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Infant, Newborn
  • Male
  • Memory
  • Neuropsychological Tests
  • Vocabulary
  • Young Adult