Cerebral cortex thickness in 15-year-old adolescents with low birth weight measured by an automated MRI-based method

Area of Science:

• Neuroscience
• Developmental Biology
• Pediatric Radiology

Background:

• Infants with low birth weight face heightened risks of perinatal brain injury.
• Disrupted cortical development in infancy can impact later motor, behavioral, and cognitive functions.

Purpose of the Study:

• To quantify cerebral cortical thickness, area, and volume in adolescents with a history of low birth weight using automated MRI.
• To investigate the relationship between birth weight, gestational age, and cortical morphometry in adolescence.

Main Methods:

• Cerebral MRI morphometric analysis was conducted on 15-year-old adolescents: 50 very low birth weight (VLBW), 49 term small for gestational age (SGA), and 58 controls.
• A novel cortical surface modeling technique was employed to measure cortical thickness and area across the entire brain.
• Cross-subject statistics were computed based on cortical anatomy.

Main Results:

• The VLBW group showed regional thinning in parietal, temporal, and occipital lobes, and thickening in frontal and occipital lobes.
• Cortical surface area and volume were significantly lower in the VLBW group compared to controls.
• Reduced cortical grey matter proportion was observed in VLBW adolescents, correlating with estimated IQ.

Conclusions:

• Very low birth weight is associated with significant alterations in adolescent cortical anatomy.
• These structural brain changes may underlie cognitive deficits and increased psychiatric risks observed in VLBW individuals.
• The findings underscore the long-term impact of early-life factors on brain development and function.