Brain development in infants born preterm: looking beyond injury

Area of Science:

• Neonatal neuroscience
• Developmental pediatrics
• Medical imaging

Background:

• Infants born very preterm are susceptible to acquired brain injury and impaired brain maturation.
• Despite improved neonatal intensive care, motor disabilities like cerebral palsy and cognitive impairments remain prevalent.
• Neuroimaging studies reveal persistent abnormalities in brain development trajectories from infancy through adulthood.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review neuroimaging approaches for identifying brain injury in preterm neonates.
• To highlight how advances in medical imaging facilitate understanding of early brain injury and atypical development.
• To underscore the importance of this understanding for improving brain health in preterm infants.

Main Methods:

• Review of neuroimaging studies focusing on brain structure, function, and metabolism in preterm infants.
• Discussion of advancements in medical imaging technology and specialized infant scanning equipment.
• Emphasis on the utility of longitudinal studies for tracking early brain injury and development.

Main Results:

• Neuroimaging provides critical insights into the brain development of very preterm infants.
• Longitudinal studies are feasible and essential for understanding the effects of early brain injury.
• Abnormalities in brain development are evident early and persist into adulthood.

Conclusions:

• Advances in neuroimaging are crucial for the early identification of brain injury in preterm neonates.
• A deeper understanding of risk factors and developmental influences is key to improving brain health.
• Continued research using neuroimaging holds promise for better neurodevelopmental outcomes in preterm children.