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Growth after late-preterm birth and adult cognitive, academic, and mental health outcomes

Sara Sammallahti1,2,3, Kati Heinonen1, Sture Andersson2

  • 1Department of Psychology and Logopedics, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland.

Pediatric Research
|January 6, 2017
PubMed

Insights

Faster early growth in late-preterm individuals is linked to improved neurocognitive function and academic success in adulthood. However, this faster growth did not consistently predict better mental health outcomes later in life.

Area of Science:

  • Developmental Pediatrics
  • Neuroscience
  • Public Health

Background:

  • Late-preterm birth (34-36 weeks gestation) is associated with developmental risks, including impaired neurocognition and lower socioeconomic attainment.
  • While rapid early growth benefits early-preterm infants, its impact on late-preterm infants is not well understood.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the association between early growth trajectories and long-term neurocognitive and mental health outcomes in late-preterm individuals.

Main Methods:

  • A cohort of 108 late-preterm infants was followed from birth to 56 months.
  • Growth in weight, head circumference, and length was measured at key intervals.
  • Neurocognitive abilities, academic performance (GPA, special education), and psychiatric symptoms were assessed in early adulthood (24-26 years).

Main Results:

  • Faster weight and head growth from birth to 5 months, and head growth from 5 to 20 months, were associated with higher IQ, executive functioning, and GPA.
  • Faster early growth predicted lower odds of requiring special education services.
  • Later head growth (20-56 months) showed a link to fewer internalizing problems, but overall mental health associations were inconsistent.

Conclusions:

  • Accelerated early growth following late-preterm birth is a significant predictor of enhanced adult neurocognitive function and academic achievement.
  • The association between early growth and mental health outcomes in this population is not consistently demonstrated.
Abstract

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