Central Department of Zoology, Tribhuvan University, Kritipur, Kathmandu, Nepal.
Herbert Wertheim School of Public Health and Human Longevity Science, University of California San Diego (UCSD), CA, USA, San Diego.
Sci Rep. 2024 Oct 29;14(1):26005. doi: 10.1038/s41598-024-77306-9.
Inconsistent results have been obtained from studies investigating the association between soil-transmitted helminths (STHs) and nutritional status and cognitive outcomes. This study aimed to investigate the influence of STHs and nutritional status on the intelligence quotient (IQ) of adolescents in the Chitwan Valley, Nepal. In this birth cohort study from the Chitwan district of Nepal, 74 cohort participants were followed up after 14 years. The presence and egg density of the STHs were investigated following the Kato-Katz method. Full-scale IQ was evaluated using the Wechsler Abbreviated Scale of Intelligence-II (WASI-II). Multivariate regression analysis was also conducted to examine the associations of STHs and nutritional status with IQ scores, adjusting for adverse childhood experiences (ACE) and demographic and socioeconomic factors. The only STHs detected was for Ascaris lumbricoides, which was detected in 16% (12/74) of the study participants. Similarly, 16% (12/73) of participants reported undernutrition (body mass index (BMI) Z score<-2SD), and 33% (25/74) of participants had a developmental deficit (WASI II FSIQ < 69). There were no significant associations between the presence of A. lumbricoides or egg density and IQ scores. However, undernutrition (BMIZ<-2SD) increased the odds of a developmental deficit according to both univariate and adjusted multivariate models [i.e., adjusted odds ratio (aOR) 9.41; 95% CI (2.23 to 39.80)]. While the study primarily examines the association of STHs and nutritional status with IQ, it is important to note that adolescents with educated mothers or higher incomes also showed better cognitive development. The prevalence of undernutrition and associated developmental deficits characterized by an IQ < 69 was alarmingly high in this cohort of adolescents from Chitwan, Nepal. Despite the high prevalence of A. lumbricoides, its infection was not identified as significantly associated with cognition. However, it is noteworthy that a consistent favorable impact of an enriching postnatal environment, approximated by maternal education and family income, may improve neurodevelopmental indicators.
研究土壤传播性蠕虫（STHs）与营养状况和认知结果之间的关联时，结果并不一致。本研究旨在探讨 STHs 和营养状况对尼泊尔奇特旺谷青少年智商（IQ）的影响。在这项来自尼泊尔奇特旺区的出生队列研究中，对 74 名队列参与者进行了 14 年的随访。采用加藤厚涂片法检测 STHs 的存在和卵密度。使用韦氏智力量表简表-II（WASI-II）评估全量表智商。还进行了多变量回归分析，以检查 STHs 和营养状况与智商评分的关联，同时调整了不良儿童经历（ACE）和人口统计学及社会经济因素。唯一检测到的 STHs 是蛔虫，在 16%（12/74）的研究参与者中发现。同样，16%（12/73）的参与者报告存在营养不良（体重指数（BMI）Z 评分<-2SD），33%（25/74）的参与者存在发育缺陷（WASI II FSIQ<69）。蛔虫的存在或卵密度与智商评分之间没有显著关联。然而，根据单变量和调整后的多变量模型，营养不良（BMIZ<-2SD）增加了发育缺陷的可能性[即，调整后的优势比（aOR）9.41；95%置信区间（2.23 至 39.80)]。虽然该研究主要探讨了 STHs 和营养状况与 IQ 的关联，但值得注意的是，母亲受过教育或收入较高的青少年的认知发育也更好。尼泊尔奇特旺地区青少年中，营养不良和相关发育缺陷（以智商<69 为特征）的患病率高得惊人。尽管蛔虫的感染率很高，但它的感染并未被确定与认知显著相关。然而，值得注意的是，丰富的产后环境（通过母亲教育和家庭收入来近似）可能会对神经发育指标产生一致的有利影响。
