Developmental changes in postural sway in children at high and low risk for developing alcohol-related disorders.

BACKGROUND: To utilize the power of latent growth analysis to evaluate changes in postural sway during development in children who are either at high or low risk for developing alcoholism. METHODS: A total of 629 assessments of postural sway have been performed in children and adolescents (n = 126) who were evaluated annually over a 7-year period. RESULTS: Latent curve models indicated that these children/adolescents show a linear decrease in sway with age. Moreover, significantly different rates of change in the amount of sway between high- and low-risk offspring were seen. With the exception of one of the four stances tested, high-risk boys consistently showed a slower rate of improvement with respect to the amount of sway exhibited compared to low-risk boys. In girls, similar rates of improvement with age were seen in high- and low-risk individuals, though in one stance the high-risk girls showed a deterioration (greater sway with increasing age). CONCLUSIONS: Previous reports of increased postural sway in high-risk offspring most likely reflect a developmental delay (high-risk children have greater sway than is appropriate for their age based on normative values by age).

Developmental delay in P300 production in children at high risk for developing alcohol-related disorders.

BACKGROUND: Reduction of P300 amplitude in children and adolescents at high risk for developing alcoholism has frequently been reported. It has been hypothesized that this reduction represents a developmental delay in reaching age-appropriate levels in P300 amplitude. Using latent growth analysis of longitudinal data obtained at yearly intervals, this study seeks to define normal growth, and determine if the pattern seen in high-risk children differs from that obtained in normal low-risk controls. METHODS: A total of 156 children from either high or low-risk families have been assessed multiple times (two-thirds more than 4 times) using both a clinical assessment (K-SADS) and ERP evaluation performed on the same day. A total of 635 separate assessments were available for modeling. RESULTS: Quadratic growth curves revealed a slower rate of change in P300 amplitude in high-risk than low-risk males. High-risk girls showed reduced visual P300 amplitude only when the presence of a K-SADS diagnosis was considered. No differences were seen for P300 latency. CONCLUSIONS: This study confirms the hypothesis that when reduction of P300 amplitude is seen in males at high risk for developing alcoholism, it is due to a developmental delay.