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Hyperactivity in adolescents born very preterm is associated with decreased caudate volume
Chiara Nosarti1, Matthew P Allin, Sophia Frangou
1Division of Psychological Medicine, Institute of Psychiatry, London, United Kingdom. c.nosarti@iop.kcl.ac.uk
Insights
Boys born very preterm may experience more behavioral issues in adolescence. Reduced left caudate nucleus volume in these boys is linked to hyperactivity and social adjustment problems.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Developmental Psychology
- Pediatrics
Background:
- Preterm birth is linked to behavioral and attention deficits.
- Neonatal brain injury in preterm infants can impact neurodevelopment.
- The caudate nucleus is vulnerable to damage in preterm neonates.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate externalizing behavior in adolescents born very preterm.
- To examine the relationship between caudate volume and behavioral functioning in this group.
Main Methods:
- Studied 72 very preterm adolescents and 50 full-term controls.
- Assessed behavior using the Rutter Behavioural Scale and a social adjustment scale.
- Quantified bilateral caudate volumes using stereologic methods.
Main Results:
- Preterm adolescents showed higher hyperactivity scores than controls.
- Preterm boys with smaller left caudate volumes exhibited higher hyperactivity.
- Reduced left caudate volume in preterm boys correlated with poorer childhood social adjustment.
Conclusions:
- Boys born very preterm are at higher risk for nonclinical behavioral problems in adolescence.
- Reduced left caudate nucleus volume may be associated with behavioral issues in very preterm boys.
Background:
Several studies have associated preterm birth with impaired behavioral functioning and attention problems. In addition, preterm individuals have an increased risk of brain injury in the neonatal period. Such early lesions have the potential to disrupt subsequent neurodevelopment. This study explored behavioral functioning, particularly externalizing behavior, in a group of adolescents who were born very preterm and its relationship with volume of the caudate, a brain region particularly vulnerable to damage in the preterm neonate.
Methods:
We studied 72 adolescents born before 33 weeks and 50 age- and gender-matched full-term control subjects. Behavioral assessment included the Rutter Behavioural Scale and a social adjustment scale. Bilateral caudate volumes were quantified by stereologic methods.
Results:
Preterm adolescents scored significantly higher than control subjects on the Rutter hyperactivity score, and boys scored higher than girls. In preterm boys only, left caudate volume was negatively correlated with hyperactivity score (r = -.43, p = .018) and social adjustment score in childhood (r = -.40, p = .028).
Conclusions:
Our data suggest that boys born very preterm are more likely to experience nonclinical behavioral problems in adolescence compared with full-term control subjects. Our results indicate that behavioral problems in this group might be associated with reductions in volume of the left caudate nucleus.
