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
Summary
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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