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Perinatal cortical growth and childhood neurocognitive abilities

R Rathbone1, S J Counsell, O Kapellou

  • 1Centre for the Developing Brain, Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust, London, UK.

Neurology
|October 15, 2011
PubMed

Insights

Brain cortical growth in preterm infants predicts cognitive abilities, not motor skills. Faster growth correlates with higher neurodevelopmental scores in later childhood.

Area of Science:

  • Neuroscience
  • Developmental Biology
  • Pediatrics

Background:

  • Preterm birth can impact brain development.
  • Understanding brain growth trajectories is crucial for predicting neurocognitive outcomes.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the relationship between brain growth (cerebral volume and cortical surface area) and neurocognitive abilities in children born preterm.
  • To determine if brain growth between 24 and 44 weeks postmenstrual age (PMA) predicts later childhood cognitive function.

Main Methods:

  • Observational cohort study of 82 infants born before 30 weeks PMA.
  • Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) used to assess brain growth (217 scans between 24-44 weeks PMA).
  • Neurocognitive assessments at 2 and 6 years (Griffiths, WPPSI-R, NEPSY, MABC).

Main Results:

  • Cortical growth positively correlated with cognitive scores (Griffiths DQ, WPPSI-R IQ, NEPSY summary).
  • No correlation found between total brain volume growth and cognitive scores.
  • Cortical growth was not associated with motor skills (MABC scores).

Conclusions:

  • Cerebral cortical growth rate between 24-44 weeks PMA is a significant predictor of global cognitive ability in childhood.
  • This growth primarily influences complex cognitive functions, such as attention, memory, and language.
  • Brain growth patterns in preterm infants do not predict motor function development.
Abstract

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