Neuropsychological and electrophysiological parameters in children with endemic goiter in an iodine-deficient area

Abstract

Pupilsfrom 2 schools located in the town ofChita and in the village of Naryn-Talacha, Chita Region were examined. On the territory studied, there is mild iodine deficiency with median variationsfrom 54 pg/l to 98 yg/l. The diagnosis ofgoiter was verified by clinical and ultrasound studies. Electroencephalographic study followed by visual and computer analyses in a group of ¡0 children with endemic goiter (EG) at a Chita school; cognitive processes (memory, attention, logic thinking) were studied according to special psychological procedures in another group of27 children with EG at a NarynTalacha school. Thefindings were compared with those in a control group consisting of healthy children of matched ages. The children with EG were found to have mild diffuse functional changes in the brain without signs ofretarded morphofunctional maturity, as well as impaired correlations between electrophysiological parameters. The above changes could be stated only by using a computer-aided analysis. Studying the integrative activity ofthe brain in the group ofchildren with EG revealed significant differences, namely: decreases in the parameters of mechanical memory, in the volume and concentration ofattention, in the logicality ofthinking. The study makes it possible to diagnose mild impairments ofboth cognitive processes and the functioning of cerebral structures, which may subsequently determine the level of intellect, menial performance, i.e. social sequels ofiodine deficiency.