Effects of gestational age on brain volume and cognitive functions in generally healthy very preterm born children during school-age: A voxel-based morphometry study

Lemola, Sakari; Oser, Nadine; Urfer-Maurer, Natalie; Brand, Serge; Holsboer‐Trachsler, Edith; Bechtel, Nina; Grob, Alexander; Weber, Peter; Datta, Alexandre N.

doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0183519

Cited by 22 publications

(18 citation statements)

References 33 publications

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“…However, we found several significant relative volume variations between extremely and very preterm infants. This result is partially consistent with the study of Lemola et al (2017), who found that the impact of prematurity on cerebral volumes is less severe in infants born after a certain gestational age threshold. But unlike Lemola et al who proposed to use the 30 weeks' gestational age at birth threshold, we showed that the 28-week gestation threshold used by the WHO is a relevant age at birth threshold to separate preterm infants into different groups according to cerebral volumetric variations.…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 92%

“…Studies that explore the impact of the degree of prematurity on these brain abnormalities remain scarce. Lemola et al (2017) demonstrated a linear increase in GM and WM volumes with gestational age in preterm infants born between 24 and 32 weeks' gestation. Furthermore, intellectual quotient results in preterm children linearly increase with gestational age.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 88%

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Multiparametric Analysis of Cerebral Development in Preterm Infants Using Magnetic Resonance Imaging

et al. 2021

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ObjectivesThe severity of neurocognitive impairment increases with prematurity. However, its mechanisms remain poorly understood. Our aim was firstly to identify multiparametric magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) markers that differ according to the degree of prematurity, and secondly to evaluate the impact of clinical complications on these markers.Materials and MethodsWe prospectively enrolled preterm infants who were divided into two groups according to their degree of prematurity: extremely preterm (<28 weeks’ gestational age) and very preterm (28–32 weeks’ gestational age). They underwent a multiparametric brain MRI scan at term-equivalent age including morphological, diffusion tensor and arterial spin labeling (ASL) perfusion sequences. We quantified overall and regional volumes, diffusion parameters, and cerebral blood flow (CBF). We then compared the parameters for the two groups. We also assessed the effects of clinical data and potential MRI morphological abnormalities on those parameters.ResultsThirty-four preterm infants were included. Extremely preterm infants (n = 13) had significantly higher frontal relative volumes (p = 0.04), frontal GM relative volumes (p = 0.03), and regional CBF than very preterm infants, but they had lower brainstem and insular relative volumes (respectively p = 0.008 and 0.04). Preterm infants with WM lesions on MRI had significantly lower overall GM CBF (13.3 ± 2 ml/100 g/min versus 17.7 ± 2.5, < ml/100 g/min p = 0.03).ConclusionMagnetic resonance imaging brain scans performed at term-equivalent age in preterm infants provide quantitative imaging parameters that differ with respect to the degree of prematurity, related to brain maturation.

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 92%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 88%

Multiparametric Analysis of Cerebral Development in Preterm Infants Using Magnetic Resonance Imaging

et al. 2021

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“…MRI studies have focused primarily on neuroanatomical volumetric differences between children born VPT and children born FT ( Ball et al, 2012 ; Boardman et al, 2006 ; Nosarti et al, 2008 ), and as well as differences in white matter organization revealed using diffusion tensor imaging (DTI; Anjari et al, 2007 ; Counsell et al, 2008 ; Duerden et al, 2015 ; Young et al, 2018 ). Studies have also investigated the association between MRI structural measures and cognitive outcomes in children born VPT, and whether there is a relation between gestational age and these measures ( Lax et al, 2013 ; Lemola et al, 2017 ; Nosarti and Froudist-Walsh, 2016 ; Woo Nam et al, 2015 ).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Altered myelin maturation in four year old children born very preterm

Vandewouw

Young

Shroff

et al. 2019

NeuroImage: Clinical

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Children born very preterm (VPT; <32 weeks gestational age [GA]) are at greater risk for a range of cognitive deficits that typically manifest at school age. Here we examine the hypothesis that these children have altered myelin maturational that can be detected by myelin sensitive MRI measures prior to school age. We included 33 four-year old children born VPT (mean GA; 28.7 weeks) and 23 four-year old full term (FT) children and completed magnetization transfer (MT), T1-weighted (T1-w) and T2-weighted (T1-w) magnetic resonance imaging as well as developmental assessments. Both MT ratio (MTR) and T1-w/T2-w ratio images were calculated, and group differences were probed using tract-based spatial statistics (TBSS) in white matter, and region of interest (ROI) analysis in white, subcortical gray and cortical gray matter. The relations between MTR and T1-w/T2-w ratio, as well as with developmental assessments, were investigated in all three brain divisions. In children born VPT, TBSS and ROI analysis revealed that both MTR and T1-w/T2-w ratio were significantly reduced in white matter compared to children born FT. ROI analysis showed reductions in T1-w/T2-w ratio in VPT children compared to FT children in the thalamus, putamen and amygdala, as well as in the occipital and temporal lobes. Across the VPT and FT children, T1-w/T2-w ratio and MTR were highly correlated across white, subcortical gray and cortical gray matter. Both measures correlated positively with developmental assessments in individual white matter tracts and cortical and subcortical ROIs, suggesting that higher MTR and T1-w/T2-w ratio is related to better cognitive performance. Together these findings are consistent with delayed myelination in VPT born children.

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“…A large literature has documented the high risk faced by preterm infants with respect to their cognitive development (27)(28)(29). These risks are well visible in the data presented in this study, with an average HAZ of -0.8 at age 3 among preterm children in the sample.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Kangaroo mother care for preterm infants and child development – evidence from São Paulo, Brazil

Onyango

Brentani

Fink

2021

Early Child Development and Care

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Background An estimated 15 million children are born prematurely each year globally, resulting in a high burden of under-five mortality and neurodevelopmental disability. Kangaroo Mother Care (KMC) is recognized as key intervention to support the development of preterm infants. Even though the benefits of KMC have been well documented in randomized controlled trials, evidence on the impact of KMC in routine care settings remains limited. Methods This paper examines the associations between maternal Kangaroo Mother Care efforts and child development among preterm infants born at the University Hospital of São Paulo, Brazil. Primary study outcomes were physical development (HAZ) and cognitive development at age 3.Results Practicing Kangaroo Mother Care was positively associated with physical development (+0.91 SD, 95% confidence intervals [0.126, 1.695]), and cognition (+0.37 SD, [0.034, 0.806]) of preterm children at age 3.Conclusion The results presented suggest that KMC has a large potential to improve children's cognitive and physical development. New programs to increase KMC uptake in the setting studied may be beneficial for both mothers and their preterm children.

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Effects of gestational age on brain volume and cognitive functions in generally healthy very preterm born children during school-age: A voxel-based morphometry study

Cited by 22 publications

References 33 publications

Multiparametric Analysis of Cerebral Development in Preterm Infants Using Magnetic Resonance Imaging

Multiparametric Analysis of Cerebral Development in Preterm Infants Using Magnetic Resonance Imaging

Altered myelin maturation in four year old children born very preterm

Kangaroo mother care for preterm infants and child development – evidence from São Paulo, Brazil

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