Adverse neuropsychiatric development following perinatal brain injury: from a preclinical perspective

Area of Science:

• Neuroscience
• Developmental Biology
• Pediatrics

Background:

• Perinatal brain injury is a major cause of childhood death and disability.
• Advances in neonatal care increase survival but also the incidence of later-life neurological and behavioral problems.
• The focus is shifting from immediate injury to long-term brain function consequences.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review current evidence on the long-term neurodevelopmental consequences of perinatal brain insults.
• To discuss the requirements for experimental research linking perinatal insults to neurodevelopmental disorders.
• To highlight the need for preclinical evaluation of long-term sequelae.

Main Methods:

• Review of existing literature on perinatal brain injury and its long-term effects.
• Analysis of animal models used to study the molecular and cellular mechanisms of altered brain development.
• Discussion of research gaps in preclinical evaluation of long-term cognitive and neuropsychiatric outcomes.

Main Results:

• Perinatal insults, including hypoxia-ischemia, inflammation, and stress, are multi-factorial and linked to adverse long-term neurological outcomes.
• While short-term consequences are studied, long-term preclinical evaluations for cognitive and neuropsychiatric disorders are rare.
• Existing animal models address various noxious stimuli but often lack focus on long-term sequelae.

Conclusions:

• Understanding the long-term impact of perinatal brain injury is crucial due to increased survival rates.
• Further research is needed to establish causal links between perinatal insults and later neurodevelopmental disorders.
• Preclinical studies must prioritize the evaluation of long-term cognitive and neuropsychiatric consequences.