Cortical structural abnormalities in very preterm children at 7 years of age

Area of Science:

• Neuroimaging
• Developmental Neuroscience
• Pediatric Neurology

Background:

• Preterm birth is a leading cause of infant mortality and morbidity.
• Long-term neurodevelopmental outcomes in very preterm (VPT) children remain a significant concern.
• Understanding brain morphometric alterations is crucial for predicting and mitigating neurodevelopmental deficits.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate long-lasting alterations in brain morphometry in 7-year-old children born very preterm (VPT).
• To identify specific regional brain structural differences between VPT and term-born children.

Main Methods:

• Volumetric and surface-based analyses of MRI scans from 24 VPT children and 24 healthy term-born controls at age 7.
• Comparison of total brain morphometric measures and regional cortical shape abnormalities.

Main Results:

• VPT children exhibited reduced total cortical gray matter volume, white matter volume, cortical surface area, and gyrification index compared to controls.
• Specific regional abnormalities included shallower anterior superior temporal sulci and altered surface area in sensorimotor and temporal cortices.
• Medial frontoparietal cortex showed larger relative surface area and a more interrupted cingulate sulcus in VPT children.

Conclusions:

• Very preterm birth is associated with widespread and regionally specific alterations in brain morphometry persisting into childhood.
• These structural brain differences highlight regional vulnerabilities that may underlie the diverse neurobehavioral consequences of VPT.
• Findings underscore the importance of early detection and intervention for neurodevelopmental challenges in VPT populations.