Related Experiment Video

Updated: May 21, 2026

Concurrent Collection of Fetal Murine Brain and Serum to Assess Effects of Maternal Diet on Nutrition and Neurodevelopment in Neurofibromatosis Type 1
05:44

Concurrent Collection of Fetal Murine Brain and Serum to Assess Effects of Maternal Diet on Nutrition and Neurodevelopment in Neurofibromatosis Type 1

Published on: May 17, 2024

Birth weight- and fetal weight-growth restriction: impact on neurodevelopment

Iris G Streimish1, Richard A Ehrenkranz, Elizabeth N Allred

  • 1Newborn Medicine, Newton-Wellesley Hospital, Newton, MA, USA.

Early Human Development
|June 27, 2012
PubMed

Insights

Severe prenatal growth restriction in female infants, but not males, is linked to neurodevelopmental impairment. Neurosensory limitations can mask these effects in preterm infants.

Area of Science:

  • Neonatal development
  • Perinatal outcomes
  • Neurodevelopmental disorders

Background:

  • Distinguishing small for gestational age (SGA) infants prenatally versus postnatally is crucial.
  • Infants identified as SGA based on fetal weight curves but appropriate for gestational age (AGA) at birth present a unique classification challenge.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To compare neurodevelopmental outcomes at 24 months corrected age among infants identified as SGA based on birth weight curves (B-SGA), SGA based on fetal weight curves only (F-SGA), and AGA.
  • To investigate sex-based differences in the impact of growth restriction.
  • To assess the influence of neurosensory limitations on observed outcomes.

Main Methods:

  • Observational cohort study of preterm infants (born before 28 weeks gestation).
  • Neurodevelopmental assessment using the Bayley Scales of Infant Development II, including Mental Development Index (MDI) and Psychomotor Development Index (PDI).

Main Results:

  • Female infants classified as B-SGA showed an increased risk of low Psychomotor Development Index (PDI < 70) compared to AGA girls (OR=2.8).
  • No increased risk of low developmental indices was observed for B-SGA or F-SGA boys compared to AGA boys.
  • Neurosensory limitations reduced the apparent association between growth restriction and neurodevelopmental outcomes in both sexes.

Conclusions:

  • Only girls experiencing the most severe growth restriction demonstrated a significantly increased risk of neurodevelopmental impairment at 24 months corrected age.
  • Neurosensory limitations complicate the assessment of growth restriction effects in preterm infants, affecting both boys and girls.
Abstract

More Related Videos

A Rat Model of Mild Intrauterine Hypoperfusion with Microcoil Stenosis06:19

A Rat Model of Mild Intrauterine Hypoperfusion with Microcoil Stenosis

Published on: January 7, 2018

Assessment and Evaluation of the High Risk Neonate: The NICU Network Neurobehavioral Scale19:15

Assessment and Evaluation of the High Risk Neonate: The NICU Network Neurobehavioral Scale

Published on: August 25, 2014

Related Concept Videos

Nature and Nurture01:10

Nature and Nurture

Many human characteristics, like height, are shaped by both nature—in other words, by our genes—and by nurture, or our environment. For example, chronic stress during childhood inhibits the production of growth hormones and consequently reduces bone growth and height. Scientists estimate that 70-90% of variation in height is due to genetic differences among individuals, and 10-30% of variation in height is due to differences in the environments that individuals experience, such as differences...
Teratogenicity01:07

Teratogenicity

The ability of a drug to produce structural deformations and functional abnormalities in the developing embryo or the fetus is called teratogenicity, and the drug producing this effect is known as a teratogen. Teratogenic effects include stillbirth, miscarriage, intrauterine growth restriction, and neurocognitive delay. A teratogen may affect the embryo at different stages of development, which is important in determining the type and extent of the damage. During blastocyst formation, the early...
Neurulation01:30

Neurulation

Neurulation is the embryological process which forms the precursors of the central nervous system and occurs after gastrulation has established the three primary cell layers of the embryo: ectoderm, mesoderm, and endoderm. In humans, the majority of this system is formed via primary neurulation, in which the central portion of the ectoderm—originally appearing as a flat sheet of cells—folds upwards and inwards, sealing off to form a hollow neural tube. As development proceeds, the anterior...
Biological Influences on Intelligence01:30

Biological Influences on Intelligence

Intelligence is often thought to be linked to brain size, but the relationship is more complex than that. While brain size does correlate modestly with some abilities, like verbal skills, the connection is weaker for others, such as spatial reasoning. Other factors, like brain structure, also play crucial roles. For instance, despite Einstein's smaller-than-average brain, his parietal cortex, which is involved in spatial reasoning, was 15% wider, suggesting that neural density might matter more...
Gut-Brain Axis01:22

Gut-Brain Axis

The gut–brain axis is a bidirectional communication system that connects the gastrointestinal tract and the brain. This interaction is mediated through multiple pathways, including the vagus nerve, hormonal signals, immune responses, and chemical messengers produced by gut microbes.Microbial Contributions to Brain FunctionGut microbiota contributes significantly to brain function by producing neuroactive compounds. These include neuroactive compounds that influence neurotransmitters such as...