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June 1978, Vol 132, No. 6 >
Article | June 1978

Growth Hormone Deficiency, Brain Development, and Intelligence FREE

Heino F. L. Meyer-Bahlburg; Joel A. Feinman; Margaret H. MacGillivray, MD; Tom Aceto, MD
[+] Author Affiliations

Reprint requests to NYS Psychiatric Institute, Division of Child Psychiatry, Columbia University, 722 W 168th St, New York, NY 10032 (Dr Meyer-Bahlburg).


Am J Dis Child. 1978;132(6):565-572. doi:10.1001/archpedi.1978.02120310029005.
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• Twenty-nine patients with growth hormone (GH) deficiency were selected according to the following criteria: no evidence of reversible GH deficiency, onset of growth retardation in early childhood, and no evidence of pituitary tumors or other direct pituitary trauma. Fourteen patients had evidence of multiple hormone deficiencies, 14 had isolated GH deficiency, and one patient questionable isolated GH deficiency. Psychometric testing showed a normal IQ distribution. The GH deficiency was not associated with deficiencies in specific mental abilities. Likewise, GH treatment in later childhood and adolescence did not seem to influence intelligence. Patients with multiple hormone deficiencies had somewhat lower IQs than patients with isolated GH deficiency when socioeconomic status was controlled. We conclude that GH deficiency itself does not seem to affect human brain development and intelligence.

(Am J Dis Child 132:565-572, 1978)

REFERENCES

1 +
Balázs R, Richter D:  Effects of hormones on the biochemical maturation of the brain , in Himwich W (ed): Biochemistry of the Developing Brain, vol 1 . New York, Marcel Dekker Inc, 1973;, pp 253-299.
2 +
Money J, Ehrhardt AA: Man & Woman. Boy & Girl . Baltimore, Johns Hopkins University Press, 1972;.
3 +
Dobbing J, Sands J:  Quantitative growth and development of human brain . Arch Dis Child 48:757-767, 1973;.
Link to Article
4 +
Sara VR, Lazarus L, Stuart MC, et al:  Fetal brain growth: Selective action by growth hormone . Science 186:446-447, 1974;.
Link to Article
5 +
Sara VR, Lazarus L:  Prenatal action of growth hormone on brain and behavior . Nature 250:257-258, 1974;.
Link to Article
6 +
Croskerry PG, Smith GK:  Prolongation of gestation by growth hormone: A confounding factor in the assessment of its prenatal action . Science 189:648-650, 1975;.
Link to Article
7 +
Croskerry PG: Normal Prenatal and Postnatal Development of the Hooded Rat and the Effects of Prenatal Treatment With Growth Hormone, thesis. McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada, 1974.
8 +
Croskerry PG, Smith GK, Shepard BJ, et al:  Perinatal brain DNA in the normal and growth hormone-treated rat . Brain Res 52:413-418, 1973;.
Link to Article
9 +
Diamond ML:  The effects of early hypophysectomy and hormone therapy on brain development . Brain Res 7:407-418, 1968;.
Link to Article
10 +
Pelton EW, Young E, Bass NH, et al:  Defective myelinogenesis in developing rat cerebrum induced by selective growth hormone deficiency  (abstract). Neurology 24:377, 1974;.
11 +
Foster R, Brown AW, Bronstein IP:  The mental development of a group of dwarfish children . Proc Am Assoc Ment Defic 63:143-153, 1939;.
12 +
Rosenbloom AL, Smith DW, Loeb DG:  Scholastic performance of short-statured children with hypopituitarism . J Pediatr 69:1131-1133, 1966;.
Link to Article
13 +
Money J, Drash PW, Lewis V:  Dwarfism and hypopituitarism: Statural retardation without mental retardation . Am J Ment Defic 72:122-126, 1967;.
14 +
Drash PW, Money J:  Statural and intellectual growth in congenital heart disease, in growth hormone deficiency, and in sibling controls , in Cheek DB (ed): Human Growth. Body Composition, Cell Growth, Energy, and Intelligence . Philadelphia, Lea & Febiger, 1968;, pp 606-615.
15 +
Cloutier MD, Stickler GB:  Head circumference in children with idiopathic hypopituitarism . Pediatrics 42:209-210, 1968;.
16 +
Kusalic M, Fortin C, Gauthier Y:  Psychodynamic aspects of dwarfism—Response to growth hormone treatment . Can Psychiatr Assoc J 17:29-34, 1972;.
17 +
Spencer RF, Raft DD:  Adaptation and defenses in hypopituitary dwarfs . Psychosomatics 15:35-38, 1974;.
18 +
Wallis H:  Psychopathologische Studien bei endokrin gestörten Kindern und Jugendlichen. III. Mitteilung. Hypophysärer Zwergwuchs und Pubertas praecox sowie Schlussbetrachtung der mitgeteilten Beobachtungen . Z Kinderheilk 84:89-117, 1960;.
Link to Article
19 +
Frankel JJ, Laron Z:  Psychological aspects of pituitary insufficiency in children and adolescents, with special reference to growth hormone . Israel J Med Sci 4:953-961, 1968;.
20 +
Obuchowski K, Zienkiewicz H, Graczykowska-Koczorowska A:  Psychological studies in pituitary dwarfism . Pol Med J 9:1229-1235, 1970;.
21 +
Weber A:  Die persönliche Entwicklung hormonal behandelter hypophysärer Zwerge im Kindes- und Jugendalter . Acta Paedopsychiatr Suppl 3:1-53, 1971;.
22 +
Martin M, Wilkins L:  Pituitary dwarfism: diagnosis and treatment . J Clin Endocrinol 18:679-693, 1958;.
Link to Article
23 +
Laron Z, Pertzelan A, Frankel J:  Growth and development in the syndromes of familial isolated absence of HGH or pituitary dwarfism with high serum concentration of an immunoreactive but biologically inactive HGH , in Hamburgh M, Barrington EJW (eds): Hormones in Development , New York, Meredith Co, 1971;, pp 573-585.
24 +
Schalch DS, Parker ML:  A sensitive double antibody immunoassay for human growth hormone in plasma . Nature 203:1141-1142, 1964;.
Link to Article
25 +
Vaughan VC III, McKay RJ(eds): Nelson Textbook of Pediatrics , ed 10. Philadelphia, WB Saunders Co, 1975;.
26 +
Wechsler D: Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children . New York, Psychological Corporation, 1949;.
27 +
Wechsler D: Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale . New York, Psychological Corporation, 1955;.
28 +
Wechsler D: Wechsler Preschool and Primary Scale of Intelligence . New York, Psychological Corporation, 1967;.
29 +
Hollingshead AB: Two Factor Index of Social Position . New Haven, Privately Printed, 1957;.
30 +
Odell WD, Wilber JF, Paul WE:  Radioimmunoassay of thyrotropin in human serum . J Clin Endocrinol Metab 25:1179-1188, 1965;.
Link to Article
31 +
Midgley AR Jr:  Radioimmunoassay for human follicle stimulating hormone . J Clin Endocrinol Metab 27:295-299, 1967;.
Link to Article
32 +
Midgley AR Jr:  Radioimmunoassay: A method for human chorionic gonadotropin and human luteinizing hormone . Endocrinology 79:10-18, 1966;.
Link to Article
33 +
Beitins IZ, Shaw MH, Kowarski A, et al:  Comparison of competitive protein binding radioassay of cortisol to double isotope dilution and Porter Silber methods . Steroids 15:765-776, 1970;.
Link to Article
34 +
Siegel A: Nonparametric Statistics for the Behavioral Sciences . New York, McGraw-Hill Book Co Inc, 1956;.
35 +
Cohen J:  A factor-analytically based rationale for the Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale . J Consult Psychol 21:451-457, 1957;.
Link to Article
36 +
Cohen J:  The factorial structure of the WISC at ages 7-6, 10-6, 13-6 . J Consult Psychol 23:285-299, 1959;.
Link to Article
37 +
Kirk RE: Experimental Design: Procedures for the Behavioral Sciences . Belmont, Calif, Wadsworth Publishing Co Inc, 1968;.
38 +
Doppelt JE, Kaufman AS:  Estimation of the differences between WISC-R and WISC IQs . Educ Psychol Measurement 37:417-424, 1977;.
Link to Article
39 +
Wechsler D: Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children—Revised . New York, Psychological Corporation, 1974;.
40 +
Elders MJ, Garland JT, Daughaday WA, et al:  Laron's dwarfism: Studies on the nature of the defect . J Pediatr 83:253-263, 1973;.
Link to Article
41 +
Laron Z:  The role of growth hormone on fetal development in utero . Adv Exp Med Biol 27:391-398, 1972;.
42 +
Lässker G, Degen R:  Elektroenzephalographische Untersuchungen beim hypophysären Minderwuchs im Kindesalter . Kinderärztliche Praxis 39:368-374, 1971;.
43 +
Meyer-Bahlburg HFL: Effects of growth hormone deficiency on behavior. Paper presented at the 14 International Congress of Pediatrics, Buenos Aires, Oct 3-9, 1974.
44 +
Hopwood NJ, Forsman PJ, Kenny FM, et al:  Hypoglycemia in hypopituitary children . Am J Dis Child 129:918-926, 1975;.
45 +
Shaffer JW:  A specific cognitive deficit observed in gonadal aplasia (Turner's syndrome) . J Clin Psychol 18:403-406, 1962;.
Link to Article
46 +
Money J:  Two cytogenetic syndromes: psychologic comparisons: I. Intelligence and specific-factor quotients . J Psychiat Res 2:223-231, 1964;.
Link to Article
47 +
Ehrhardt AA, Cotton C, Aceto T Jr: Short stature due to bone dysplasia: Intelligence and personality findings (abstract). Program and Abstracts of the Annual Meeting of the Midwestern Society for Pediatric Research, Pittsburgh, Nov 7-8, 1973.

Figures

Tables

Interactive Graphics

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Country-Specific Mortality and Growth Failure in Infancy and Yound Children and Association With Material Stature

Use interactive graphics and maps to view and sort country-specific infant and early dhildhood mortality and growth failure data and their association with maternal

References

1 +
Balázs R, Richter D:  Effects of hormones on the biochemical maturation of the brain , in Himwich W (ed): Biochemistry of the Developing Brain, vol 1 . New York, Marcel Dekker Inc, 1973;, pp 253-299.
2 +
Money J, Ehrhardt AA: Man & Woman. Boy & Girl . Baltimore, Johns Hopkins University Press, 1972;.
3 +
Dobbing J, Sands J:  Quantitative growth and development of human brain . Arch Dis Child 48:757-767, 1973;.
Link to Article
4 +
Sara VR, Lazarus L, Stuart MC, et al:  Fetal brain growth: Selective action by growth hormone . Science 186:446-447, 1974;.
Link to Article
5 +
Sara VR, Lazarus L:  Prenatal action of growth hormone on brain and behavior . Nature 250:257-258, 1974;.
Link to Article
6 +
Croskerry PG, Smith GK:  Prolongation of gestation by growth hormone: A confounding factor in the assessment of its prenatal action . Science 189:648-650, 1975;.
Link to Article
7 +
Croskerry PG: Normal Prenatal and Postnatal Development of the Hooded Rat and the Effects of Prenatal Treatment With Growth Hormone, thesis. McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada, 1974.
8 +
Croskerry PG, Smith GK, Shepard BJ, et al:  Perinatal brain DNA in the normal and growth hormone-treated rat . Brain Res 52:413-418, 1973;.
Link to Article
9 +
Diamond ML:  The effects of early hypophysectomy and hormone therapy on brain development . Brain Res 7:407-418, 1968;.
Link to Article
10 +
Pelton EW, Young E, Bass NH, et al:  Defective myelinogenesis in developing rat cerebrum induced by selective growth hormone deficiency  (abstract). Neurology 24:377, 1974;.
11 +
Foster R, Brown AW, Bronstein IP:  The mental development of a group of dwarfish children . Proc Am Assoc Ment Defic 63:143-153, 1939;.
12 +
Rosenbloom AL, Smith DW, Loeb DG:  Scholastic performance of short-statured children with hypopituitarism . J Pediatr 69:1131-1133, 1966;.
Link to Article
13 +
Money J, Drash PW, Lewis V:  Dwarfism and hypopituitarism: Statural retardation without mental retardation . Am J Ment Defic 72:122-126, 1967;.
14 +
Drash PW, Money J:  Statural and intellectual growth in congenital heart disease, in growth hormone deficiency, and in sibling controls , in Cheek DB (ed): Human Growth. Body Composition, Cell Growth, Energy, and Intelligence . Philadelphia, Lea & Febiger, 1968;, pp 606-615.
15 +
Cloutier MD, Stickler GB:  Head circumference in children with idiopathic hypopituitarism . Pediatrics 42:209-210, 1968;.
16 +
Kusalic M, Fortin C, Gauthier Y:  Psychodynamic aspects of dwarfism—Response to growth hormone treatment . Can Psychiatr Assoc J 17:29-34, 1972;.
17 +
Spencer RF, Raft DD:  Adaptation and defenses in hypopituitary dwarfs . Psychosomatics 15:35-38, 1974;.
18 +
Wallis H:  Psychopathologische Studien bei endokrin gestörten Kindern und Jugendlichen. III. Mitteilung. Hypophysärer Zwergwuchs und Pubertas praecox sowie Schlussbetrachtung der mitgeteilten Beobachtungen . Z Kinderheilk 84:89-117, 1960;.
Link to Article
19 +
Frankel JJ, Laron Z:  Psychological aspects of pituitary insufficiency in children and adolescents, with special reference to growth hormone . Israel J Med Sci 4:953-961, 1968;.
20 +
Obuchowski K, Zienkiewicz H, Graczykowska-Koczorowska A:  Psychological studies in pituitary dwarfism . Pol Med J 9:1229-1235, 1970;.
21 +
Weber A:  Die persönliche Entwicklung hormonal behandelter hypophysärer Zwerge im Kindes- und Jugendalter . Acta Paedopsychiatr Suppl 3:1-53, 1971;.
22 +
Martin M, Wilkins L:  Pituitary dwarfism: diagnosis and treatment . J Clin Endocrinol 18:679-693, 1958;.
Link to Article
23 +
Laron Z, Pertzelan A, Frankel J:  Growth and development in the syndromes of familial isolated absence of HGH or pituitary dwarfism with high serum concentration of an immunoreactive but biologically inactive HGH , in Hamburgh M, Barrington EJW (eds): Hormones in Development , New York, Meredith Co, 1971;, pp 573-585.
24 +
Schalch DS, Parker ML:  A sensitive double antibody immunoassay for human growth hormone in plasma . Nature 203:1141-1142, 1964;.
Link to Article
25 +
Vaughan VC III, McKay RJ(eds): Nelson Textbook of Pediatrics , ed 10. Philadelphia, WB Saunders Co, 1975;.
26 +
Wechsler D: Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children . New York, Psychological Corporation, 1949;.
27 +
Wechsler D: Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale . New York, Psychological Corporation, 1955;.
28 +
Wechsler D: Wechsler Preschool and Primary Scale of Intelligence . New York, Psychological Corporation, 1967;.
29 +
Hollingshead AB: Two Factor Index of Social Position . New Haven, Privately Printed, 1957;.
30 +
Odell WD, Wilber JF, Paul WE:  Radioimmunoassay of thyrotropin in human serum . J Clin Endocrinol Metab 25:1179-1188, 1965;.
Link to Article
31 +
Midgley AR Jr:  Radioimmunoassay for human follicle stimulating hormone . J Clin Endocrinol Metab 27:295-299, 1967;.
Link to Article
32 +
Midgley AR Jr:  Radioimmunoassay: A method for human chorionic gonadotropin and human luteinizing hormone . Endocrinology 79:10-18, 1966;.
Link to Article
33 +
Beitins IZ, Shaw MH, Kowarski A, et al:  Comparison of competitive protein binding radioassay of cortisol to double isotope dilution and Porter Silber methods . Steroids 15:765-776, 1970;.
Link to Article
34 +
Siegel A: Nonparametric Statistics for the Behavioral Sciences . New York, McGraw-Hill Book Co Inc, 1956;.
35 +
Cohen J:  A factor-analytically based rationale for the Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale . J Consult Psychol 21:451-457, 1957;.
Link to Article
36 +
Cohen J:  The factorial structure of the WISC at ages 7-6, 10-6, 13-6 . J Consult Psychol 23:285-299, 1959;.
Link to Article
37 +
Kirk RE: Experimental Design: Procedures for the Behavioral Sciences . Belmont, Calif, Wadsworth Publishing Co Inc, 1968;.
38 +
Doppelt JE, Kaufman AS:  Estimation of the differences between WISC-R and WISC IQs . Educ Psychol Measurement 37:417-424, 1977;.
Link to Article
39 +
Wechsler D: Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children—Revised . New York, Psychological Corporation, 1974;.
40 +
Elders MJ, Garland JT, Daughaday WA, et al:  Laron's dwarfism: Studies on the nature of the defect . J Pediatr 83:253-263, 1973;.
Link to Article
41 +
Laron Z:  The role of growth hormone on fetal development in utero . Adv Exp Med Biol 27:391-398, 1972;.
42 +
Lässker G, Degen R:  Elektroenzephalographische Untersuchungen beim hypophysären Minderwuchs im Kindesalter . Kinderärztliche Praxis 39:368-374, 1971;.
43 +
Meyer-Bahlburg HFL: Effects of growth hormone deficiency on behavior. Paper presented at the 14 International Congress of Pediatrics, Buenos Aires, Oct 3-9, 1974.
44 +
Hopwood NJ, Forsman PJ, Kenny FM, et al:  Hypoglycemia in hypopituitary children . Am J Dis Child 129:918-926, 1975;.
45 +
Shaffer JW:  A specific cognitive deficit observed in gonadal aplasia (Turner's syndrome) . J Clin Psychol 18:403-406, 1962;.
Link to Article
46 +
Money J:  Two cytogenetic syndromes: psychologic comparisons: I. Intelligence and specific-factor quotients . J Psychiat Res 2:223-231, 1964;.
Link to Article
47 +
Ehrhardt AA, Cotton C, Aceto T Jr: Short stature due to bone dysplasia: Intelligence and personality findings (abstract). Program and Abstracts of the Annual Meeting of the Midwestern Society for Pediatric Research, Pittsburgh, Nov 7-8, 1973.

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