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Association between cognition and the retinal microvasculature in 11-year old children born preterm or at term

Fang-Fei Wei1, Anke Raaijmakers2, Zhen-Yu Zhang1

  • 1Studies Coordinating Centre, Research Unit Hypertension and Cardiovascular Epidemiology, KU Leuven Department of Cardiovascular Siciences, University of Leuven, Leuven, Belgium.

Early Human Development
|February 8, 2018
PubMed

Insights

Premature infants show smaller retinal microvessel diameters, linked to reduced head circumference and cognitive performance. These findings highlight the impact of cerebral microcirculation development on premature children

Area of Science:

  • Ophthalmology
  • Pediatrics
  • Neuroscience

Background:

  • Retinal microvessels offer a non-invasive window into cerebral microvasculature health.
  • Understanding the link between retinal traits and cognitive development in early childhood is crucial.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the relationship between retinal microvascular traits and cognitive performance in children born prematurely versus at term.
  • To assess if cerebral microcirculation development, as reflected by retinal vessels, impacts cognitive outcomes in preterm infants.

Main Methods:

  • Study included 93 prematurely born infants (<1000g) and 87 term-born controls.
  • Measured head circumference (HC) and intelligence quotient (IQ) using Wechsler Non-Verbal test.
  • Analyzed retinal photographs for arteriolar (CRAE) and venular (CRVE) diameters using Singapore I Vessel Assessment software.

Main Results:

  • Premature infants had smaller HC, lower IQ, and narrower retinal arteriolar and venular diameters compared to term controls.
  • A 1-SD decrease in CRAE was significantly associated with smaller HC and lower total IQ, matrix reasoning, and spatial span.
  • These associations remained significant after adjusting for potential confounding factors like sex, age, and socioeconomic status.

Conclusions:

  • Smaller retinal arteriolar diameter correlates with reduced head circumference and cognitive deficits in prematurely born children.
  • Maldevelopment of cerebral microcirculation, indicated by retinal microvasculature, appears to have lasting effects on brain growth and cognitive function in preterm infants.
Abstract

Keywords:
ChildrenCognitionMicrocirculationPrematurityRetina

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