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Differential brain growth in the infant born preterm: current knowledge and future developments from brain imaging
Serena J Counsell1, James P Boardman
1Robert Steiner MR Unit, Imaging Sciences Department, MRC Clinical Sciences Centre, Imperial College London, Hammersmith Campus, UK.
Seminars in Fetal & Neonatal Medicine
|July 5, 2005
Summary
Preterm birth impacts brain development, leading to neuropsychiatric issues. Advanced MRI reveals structural brain differences in preterm survivors, offering insights into these disorders.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Developmental Biology
- Radiology
Background:
- Preterm birth is linked to significant neuropsychiatric impairment in children and adolescents.
- The underlying neural mechanisms of these impairments remain incompletely understood.
- Subtle differences in cerebral growth and development are observed in preterm survivors.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review literature on differential brain development following preterm birth.
- To emphasize morphological brain changes correlated with neuropsychiatric impairment.
- To explore neural correlates of disorders in preterm-born individuals.
Main Methods:
- Quantitative magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) techniques.
- Diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) for tissue microstructure analysis.
- Computer-assisted morphometric techniques (voxel-based morphometry, deformation-based morphometry) for cerebral morphology.
Main Results:
- Abnormalities in tissue microstructure identified in preterm survivors.
- Alterations in cerebral morphology observed across different ages.
- Specific functional correlates linked to some of these structural brain changes.
Conclusions:
- Preterm birth leads to distinct patterns of brain development.
- Morphological brain changes are associated with neuropsychiatric impairment in preterm survivors.
- Advanced neuroimaging techniques are crucial for understanding these developmental trajectories.