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Accelerated Small-World Property of Structural Brain Networks in Preterm Infants at Term-Equivalent Age

Joo Young Lee1, Hyun-Kyung Park1,2, Hyun Ju Lee3,4

  • 1Department of Pediatrics, Hanyang University Hospital, Hanyang University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea.

Neonatology
|November 2, 2018
PubMed

Insights

Preterm infants show altered brain network organization at term-equivalent age, with increased small worldness linked to lower gestational age. This suggests brain network reorganization may indicate resilience to prematurity.

Area of Science:

  • Neuroscience
  • Pediatrics
  • Medical Imaging

Background:

  • Predicting neurodevelopmental outcomes in preterm infants is a significant pediatric challenge.
  • Understanding brain network development in preterm infants at term-equivalent age is limited.
  • White matter connectivity analysis is a growing area of interest in infant brain development.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the structural brain network in preterm infants at term-equivalent age using diffusion MRI.
  • To compare brain networks of preterm infants with those of full-term infants.
  • To explore the impact of gestational age and clinical factors on brain network structure.

Main Methods:

  • Diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) data were collected from 55 preterm neonates and 21 full-term infants.
  • Probabilistic white matter tractography and the Johns Hopkins University neonate atlas were used to create global structural brain networks.
  • Connectivity between cortical regions was quantified.

Main Results:

  • Preterm infants exhibited significantly lower global efficiency and increased small worldness compared to full-term infants.
  • Increased small worldness in preterm infants correlated with lower gestational age.
  • Chronic lung disease in preterm infants was associated with decreased clustering and local efficiency.

Conclusions:

  • The accelerated small worldness in preterm infants suggests a reorganized structural brain network.
  • This reorganization may represent a resilient adaptation to prematurity-associated pathology.
  • Findings provide insights into brain network development following preterm birth.
Abstract

Keywords:
Clinical variablesConnectivity networksDiffusion tensor imagingGestational agePreterm infants

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