Differential brain growth in the infant born preterm: current knowledge and future developments from brain imaging

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.