Effect of Iron and Zinc Deficiency on Short Term Memory in Children.

Objective: To evaluate the effect of iron and zinc deficiency on short term memory of children in the age group of 6-11 years and to assess the response to supplementation therapy. Design: Interventional study. Setting: 100 children in the age group of 6-11 years (subdivided into 6-8 yr and 9-11 yr groups) from an urban corporation school. Methods: After collection of demographic data, the study children underwent hematological assessment which included serum iron, serum zinc, and hemoglobin estimation. Based on the results, they were divided into Iron deficient, Zinc deficient, and Combined deficiency groups. Verbal and nonverbal memory assessment was done in all the children. Intervention: Iron (2mg/kg bodyweight in two divided doses) and zinc (5mg once-a-day) supplementation for a period of 3 months for children in the deficient group. Results: All children with iron and zinc deficiency in both the age groups had memory deficits. Combined deficiency in 9-11 years group showed severe degree of affectation in verbal (P<0.01) and non-verbal memory (P<0.01), and improved after supplementation (P = 0.05 and P<0.01, respectively). In 6-8 years group, only non-verbal form of memory (P =0.02) was affected, which improved after supplementation. Conclusion: Iron and zinc deficiency is associated with memory deficits in children. There is a marked improvement in memory after supplementation. Post supplementation IQ scores do not show significant improvement in deficient groups in 6-8 year olds.

A Neuropsychological Study of Frontal Lobe Function in Obsessive-compulsive Disorder / 신경정신의학

OBJECTIVES: Non-verbal memory deficits, impairments in executive function and deficits in visuospartial functions have been repeatedly reported in subjects with obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). The present study aimed to evaluate the frontal lobe function using neuro-psychological test in subjects with OCD and normal control. METHODS: A battery of neuropsychological tests (Wisconsin Card Sorting test, Rey-Osterrieth Complex Figure test, Controlled Oral Word Association test, Trail Making test, Verbal Learning test) reflecting frontal lobe function was administrated to 32 OCD patients and 28 healthy comparison subjects. RESULT: There were no significant differences in age, years of education, or estimated IQ between the groups. Scores in category fluency, immediate recall and delayed recall of Rey-Osterrieth Complex Figure test in OCD subjects were significantly lower than those of healthy comparison subjects (ANCOVA, F=15.07, df=58, p< .001; ANCOVA, F=6.33, df=57, p=0.015; ANCOVA, F=5.53, df=57, p=0.022, respectively). CONCLUSION: OCD patients had selective deficits in task involving non-verbal memory and categorical word fluency relative to healthy comparisons.