Development of twins according to zygosity and perinatal parameters

Abstract

Developmental trajectories will be investigated, focusing on the physical and cognitive development of twin children. This is an innovative study in Brazil associated to the Thematic Project "USP Panel of Twins: Research on Behavior, Health and Well-Being of Twins", (FAPESP Process nº 2022/02107-6). The objectives of the research, which will be the responsibility of the IC scholar, are: (a) to compare indicators of physical and cognitive development in twins according to zygosity and birth weight discordance; (b) to compare indicators of physical development in children in dyads of dizygotic twins of opposite sex (DZso) and same sex (DZms) and in MZ pairs. The sample will consist of twin children whose mothers gave birth at HCFMUSP. The children will be monitored jointly by dental and psychology teams. The study will be carried out after the children have undergone dental treatment at FOUSP. Data will be collected individually in a room at the FOUSP Dental Clinic reserved for the Psychology Team. For the physical measurements, an ultrasonic digital stadiometer will be used to assess height (cm), a digital scale to assess weight (kg) and a manual bulb dynamometer to determine the strength of the right and left hands. The Raven's Colored Progressive Matrices questionnaire will be used as an indicator of cognitive development. Using a spreadsheet provided by HCFMUSP, we will have access to information on the characteristics of the pregnancy and delivery.