Early breast milk exposure modifies brain connectivity in preterm infants

Area of Science:

• Neuroscience
• Developmental Biology
• Pediatrics

Background:

• Preterm infants face risks of impaired brain development and neurocognitive deficits.
• Breast milk is beneficial for term infants, but its impact on preterm brain development remains unclear.
• Optimal nutrition for preterm infants' brain development is an ongoing research area.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the association between breast milk exposure and brain development markers in preterm infants.
• To test the hypothesis that breast milk promotes improved brain structure and connectivity.
• To explore a potential dose-response relationship between breast milk intake and brain development outcomes.

Main Methods:

• Study included 47 preterm infants assessed at term equivalent age.
• Neonatal breast milk exposure data and brain MRI were collected.
• Network-Based Statistics (NBS), Tract-based Spatial Statistics (TBSS), and volumetric analysis were employed.

Main Results:

• Infants receiving exclusive breast milk for ≥75% of their hospital stay showed higher fractional anisotropy (FA)-weighted connectome connectivity.
• Higher FA was observed in major white matter tracts (corpus callosum, corticospinal tracts, etc.) in the high breast milk exposure group.
• A dose-dependent effect was noted, with greater improvements seen at ≥90% breast milk exposure; no significant differences in brain volumes were found.

Conclusions:

• Breast milk feeding in the early weeks after preterm birth is associated with enhanced structural brain connectivity.
• Higher breast milk exposure correlates with improved white matter integrity in preterm infants.
• Findings suggest breast milk plays a crucial role in optimizing brain development trajectories for preterm infants.