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White matter volume and concentration reductions in adolescents with history of very preterm birth: a voxel-based
Mónica Giménez1, Carme Junqué, Ana Narberhaus
1Department of Psychiatry and Clinical Psychobiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Barcelona, and Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Pediatrics, Radiology and Physics Medicine, Hospital Clinic, Spain.
Insights
Very preterm birth (VPTB) is linked to widespread white matter (WM) brain abnormalities in adolescents. Lower gestational age and weight at birth correlate with reduced WM integrity, highlighting risks of premature birth.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Developmental Biology
- Radiology
Background:
- Very preterm birth (VPTB) is a significant risk factor for white matter (WM) damage.
- Adolescents born very preterm often exhibit subtle neurological differences.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate regional white matter (WM) brain abnormalities in adolescents with a history of very preterm birth (VPTB) using voxel-based morphometry (VBM).
- To explore the correlation between WM changes and gestational age (GA) and weight (GW) at birth in VPTB subjects.
Main Methods:
- Voxel-based morphometry (VBM) analysis was applied to MRI scans of 50 adolescents born very preterm and 50 controls matched for age and socio-cultural status.
- Both modulated and unmodulated VBM analyses were performed to assess WM density and volume differences.
- Correlation analyses examined the relationship between WM integrity and gestational age/weight at birth.
Main Results:
- Significant WM abnormalities were detected in VPTB adolescents across all cerebral lobes.
- Unmodulated VBM indicated periventricular damage, while modulated VBM revealed decreased WM in regions distant from the ventricles.
- Lower gestational age and birth weight were significantly correlated with reduced WM integrity.
Conclusions:
- Widespread white matter impairment is a consequence of very preterm birth.
- Gestational age and birth weight are critical determinants of white matter integrity in individuals born prematurely.
- VBM is a valuable tool for detecting subtle WM abnormalities in VPTB populations.
Abstract:
Very preterm birth (VPTB) is an important risk factor for white matter (WM) damage. We used voxel-based morphometry (VBM) to examine regional WM brain abnormalities in 50 adolescents with antecedents of very preterm birth (VPTB) without evidence of WM damage on T2-weighted MRI. This group was compared with a group of 50 subjects born at term and matched for age, handedness and socio-cultural status. We also examined the relationship between WM changes and gestational age (GA) and weight (GW) at birth in VPTB subjects. Both modulated and unmodulated VBM analyses showed significant abnormalities in several WM brain regions in the VPTB group, involving all the cerebral lobes. However, density analyses (unmodulated data) mainly identified periventricular damage and the involvement of the longitudinal fascicles while volume analyses (modulated data) detected WM decreases in regions distant from the ventricular system, located at the origin and end of the long fascicles. A significant correlation was found between WM decreases and both GA and GW in various brain regions: the lower the GA and GW, the lower the WM integrity. This study supports the current view that widespread white matter impairment is associated with immature birth.
