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Neurological abnormalities in young adults born preterm
M Allin1, M Rooney, T Griffiths
1Section of General Psychiatry, Division of Psychological Medicine, Box 063, Institute of Psychiatry, De Crespigny Park, London, SE5 8AF, UK. matthew.allin@iop.kcl.ac.uk
Journal of Neurology, Neurosurgery, and Psychiatry
|March 18, 2006
Summary
Neurological abnormalities persist into adulthood for individuals born very preterm (VPT). These VPT adults show increased neurological signs associated with reduced IQ, highlighting long-term neurodevelopmental impacts.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Developmental Pediatrics
- Neurology
Background:
- Individuals born very preterm (VPT) face higher risks of neurological issues and cognitive deficits.
- It remains unclear if these early neurological signs persist or resolve by adulthood.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the persistence of neurological signs in very preterm individuals into adulthood.
- To determine the association between adult neurological signs and cognitive function in VPT individuals.
Main Methods:
- A comprehensive neurological examination was performed on 153 VPT individuals and 71 term-born controls at 17-18 years of age.
- Neurological signs were categorized into primary and integrative domains (sensory integration, motor confusion, sequencing).
- Longitudinal data from birth, 4, 8, and 18 years of age were utilized.
Main Results:
- VPT young adults exhibited significantly higher total, primary, and integrative neurology scores compared to controls.
- Increased scores in sensory integration and motor confusion were observed in the VPT group.
- Integrative neurological abnormalities strongly correlated with reduced IQ, while primary abnormalities did not.
Conclusions:
- Neurological abnormalities are more prevalent in very preterm adults compared to term-born individuals.
- These persistent neurological signs in VPT adults are significantly linked to impaired neuropsychological function, particularly reduced IQ.