Minor neurological dysfunction from birth to 12 years. II: Puberty is related to decreased dysfunction.

To determine whether puberty is related to decreased minor neurological dysfunction (MND), 174 children from the Groningen Perinatal Project who had had MND at nine years were re-examined at 12 years. No signs of MND could be demonstrated in 39 of the children, 33 of whom showed at least three signs of puberty. The presence of minor physical anomalies was associated with persisting MND. The authors hypothesise that puberty is related to a decrease in MND, and discuss the role of hormonal changes in relation to the decrease in minor signs. Re-examination at 14 years will be necessary to confirm this hypothesis, since 68 per cent of the children had not yet reached puberty. Children with MND reached puberty no later than those without.