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Cognitive Development Trajectories of Very Preterm and Typically Developing Children

Kathryn S Mangin1,2, L J Horwood3, Lianne J Woodward2

  • 1Washington University.

Child Development
|July 2, 2016
PubMed

Insights

Children born very preterm (VPT) consistently show lower cognitive scores than full-term peers. Cognitive development trajectories remain stable, influenced by early brain health and socioeconomic factors.

Area of Science:

  • Neuroscience
  • Developmental Psychology
  • Pediatrics

Background:

  • Cognitive impairment is frequent in very preterm (VPT) born children.
  • Longitudinal cognitive development patterns in VPT children are not well understood.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the long-term cognitive trajectories of very preterm (VPT) children.
  • To identify factors influencing cognitive development in VPT children.

Main Methods:

  • Prospective cohort study of 110 VPT (≤32 weeks gestation) and 113 full-term (FT) children.
  • Cognitive assessments using Wechsler scales at ages 4, 6, 9, and 12 years.
  • Growth curve modeling to analyze cognitive trajectories.

Main Results:

  • VPT children consistently scored lower than FT peers across all assessment ages (p < .001).
  • Stable cognitive trajectories were observed in both VPT and FT groups.
  • Neonatal white matter abnormalities and socioeconomic adversity were additive predictors of cognitive risk.

Conclusions:

  • Cognitive functioning in VPT children is stable over time, despite some variability.
  • Early neurological development and family socioeconomic context significantly influence long-term cognitive outcomes in VPT children.

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