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Cortical surface area and IQ in very-low-birth-weight (VLBW) young adults

Jon Skranes1, Gro C C Løhaugen, Marit Martinussen

  • 1Department of Laboratory Medicine, Children's and Women's Health, Faculty of Medicine, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Trondheim, Norway. jon.skranes@ntnu.no

Cortex; a Journal Devoted to the Study of the Nervous System and Behavior
|July 13, 2013
PubMed

Insights

Very-low-birth-weight (VLBW) individuals show reduced adult cortical surface area, particularly in frontal and temporal regions. This brain development difference is linked to persistent cognitive deficits, impacting intelligence quotient (IQ) scores.

Area of Science:

  • Neuroscience
  • Developmental Neuroscience
  • Cognitive Neuroscience

Background:

  • Preterm birth and very-low-birth-weight (VLBW) are associated with altered cortical development.
  • Cognitive deficits in VLBW individuals can persist into adulthood.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To compare cortical surface area in young adult VLBW individuals and controls at age 19.
  • To investigate the association between cortical surface area and cognitive function in VLBW adults.

Main Methods:

  • 38 VLBW (BW ≤ 1500 g) and 59 control participants underwent MRI at 1.5 T.
  • Cortical surface area was analyzed using FreeSurfer software.
  • Cognitive function was assessed using the Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale (WAIS)-III.

Main Results:

  • VLBW adults exhibited reduced cortical surface area in ventrolateral prefrontal, temporal, and parietal regions.
  • Reduced intelligence quotient (IQ) scores in VLBW individuals correlated with surface area reductions in frontal, temporal, and occipital regions.
  • Working Memory and Processing Speed indices were most associated with IQ and surface area changes in VLBW group.

Conclusions:

  • Persistent deviations in adult cortical surface area may underlie cognitive impairments in individuals born preterm with VLBW.
  • These findings highlight potential neurobiological explanations for long-term cognitive outcomes in VLBW populations.
Abstract

Keywords:
Brodmann areasCortical surface areaIQMRIVery-low-birth-weightWorking memory

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