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Updated: May 1, 2026
Assessment and Evaluation of the High Risk Neonate: The NICU Network Neurobehavioral Scale
Published on: August 25, 2014
Neonatal brain pathology predicts adverse attention and processing speed outcomes in very preterm and/or very low
Andrea L Murray1, Shannon E Scratch1, Deanne K Thompson1
1Victorian Infant Brain Studies.
Insights
Very preterm (VPT) or very low birth weight (VLBW) children show poorer attention and processing speed. Neonatal brain abnormalities, particularly in white and deep gray matter, predict these long-term cognitive outcomes.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Developmental Pediatrics
- Cognitive Psychology
Background:
- Very preterm (VPT) and very low birth weight (VLBW) infants are at risk for neurodevelopmental deficits.
- Attention and processing speed are crucial cognitive functions affected by early brain development.
- Neonatal brain imaging may offer insights into predicting cognitive outcomes.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate attention and processing speed in VPT/VLBW children.
- To determine if neonatal brain abnormalities predict these cognitive outcomes at age 7.
- To compare cognitive performance between VPT/VLBW children and term-born controls.
Main Methods:
- A cohort of 198 VPT/VLBW children and 70 term controls were assessed.
- Neonatal MRI scans were analyzed for white matter, cortical gray matter, deep gray matter, and cerebellar abnormalities.
- Standardized neuropsychological tests evaluated attention and processing speed at 7 years.
Main Results:
- VPT/VLBW children performed significantly worse on attention and processing speed tasks compared to controls.
- Higher neonatal brain abnormality scores correlated with poorer attention and processing speed outcomes.
- White matter and deep gray matter abnormalities were notable predictors of long-term cognitive deficits.
Conclusions:
- Attention and processing speed are significant concerns for VPT/VLBW children.
- This study establishes a link between neonatal brain pathology and adverse attention/processing speed outcomes at age 7.
- Neonatal MRI findings can help predict long-term cognitive performance in this vulnerable population.
Objective:
This study aimed to examine attention and processing speed outcomes in very preterm (VPT; < 32 weeks' gestational age) or very low birth weight (VLBW; < 1,500 g) children, and to determine whether brain abnormality measured by neonatal MRI can be used to predict outcome in these domains.
Method:
A cohort of 198 children born < 30 weeks' gestational age and/or < 1,250 g and 70 term controls were examined. Neonatal MRI scans at term equivalent age were quantitatively assessed for white matter, cortical gray matter, deep gray matter, and cerebellar abnormalities. Attention and processing speed were assessed at 7 years using standardized neuropsychological tests. Group differences were tested in attention and processing speed, and the relationships between these cognitive domains and brain abnormalities at birth were investigated.
Results:
At 7 years of age, the VPT/VLBW group performed significantly poorer than term controls on all attention and processing speed outcomes. Associations between adverse attention and processing speed performances at 7 years and higher neonatal brain abnormality scores were found; in particular, white matter and deep gray matter abnormalities were reasonable predictors of long-term cognitive outcomes.
Conclusion:
Attention and processing speed are significant areas of concern in VPT/VLBW children. This is the first study to show that adverse attention and processing speed outcomes at 7 years are associated with neonatal brain pathology.
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