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Alterations in cortical thickness development in preterm-born individuals: Implications for high-order cognitive

Kie Woo Nam1, Nazareth Castellanos1, Andrew Simmons2

  • 1Department of Psychosis Studies, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience, King's Health Partners, King's College London, London, UK.

Neuroimage
|April 15, 2015
PubMed

Insights

Very preterm birth alters brain development, showing distinct cortical thickness changes in adolescence and adulthood. These differences impact executive functions, particularly language processing, in very preterm individuals.

Area of Science:

  • Neuroscience
  • Developmental Biology
  • Medical Imaging

Background:

  • Very preterm birth (gestational age <33 weeks) is linked to neurodevelopmental and behavioral issues.
  • Cortical thickness alterations are observed in very preterm individuals, but longitudinal changes are less understood.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate cortical thickness in very preterm individuals versus controls at mid-adolescence and early adulthood.
  • To analyze longitudinal changes in cortical thickness between these two life stages.
  • To identify brain regions and developmental trajectories associated with cognitive functions.

Main Methods:

  • Longitudinal study of cortical thickness using neuroimaging in very preterm individuals and controls.
  • Univariate statistical analyses to compare cortical thickness between groups.
  • Multivariate approach (support vector machine) to identify discriminating brain regions.
  • Correlation analysis between cortical thickness changes and executive function scores.

Main Results:

  • Very preterm adolescents showed increased cortical thickness in specific regions (occipitotemporal, prefrontal), which diminished by adulthood.
  • Participants born very preterm exhibited reduced cortical thickness in parahippocampal and insular regions at both time points.
  • A support vector machine model accurately (86.5%) distinguished between groups based on cortical thickness patterns.
  • Longitudinal changes in specific cortical regions (temporal pole, occipitotemporal gyrus, superior parietal lobe) correlated with executive function performance.

Conclusions:

  • Cortical development in very preterm individuals shows dynamic changes throughout adolescence and early adulthood.
  • Specific patterns of cortical thickness alterations are associated with neurocognitive outcomes, particularly executive functions.
  • Findings highlight the prolonged impact of very preterm birth on brain maturation and cognitive abilities.

Keywords:
Cortical thicknessMRINeuropsychological outcomePretermSupport vector machine

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