Brain structure and neurological and behavioural functioning in infants born preterm.

Area of Science:

• Neuroscience
• Developmental Pediatrics
• Medical Imaging

Background:

• Preterm birth can impact neurodevelopment, affecting brain structure and function.
• Understanding brain structure-function relationships is crucial for identifying risks in preterm infants.
• Differences in outcomes between very preterm and moderate-late preterm infants require investigation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate relationships between brain structure and neurological/behavioral functioning in preterm infants at term-equivalent age.
• To determine if these brain structure-function relationships differ between very preterm and moderate-late preterm infants.

Main Methods:

• Structural and diffusion magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) were used to assess brain structure in 257-263 preterm infants.
• Neurological and behavioral assessments included Prechtl's general movements, Neonatal Intensive Care Unit Network Neurobehavioral Scale (NNNS), and Hammersmith Neonatal Neurological Examination (HNNE).
• Linear regressions, Voxel-Based Morphometry, and Tract-Based Spatial Statistics analyzed associations between brain measures and functional assessments.

Main Results:

• Suboptimal neurological and behavioral scores were associated with altered white matter microstructure (fractional anisotropy, axial/radial/mean diffusivities) in specific brain tracts.
• Associations were observed in the corpus callosum, optic radiation, and corona radiata.
• Brain structure-function relationships did not significantly differ between very preterm and moderate-late preterm infants.

Conclusions:

• White matter microstructural alterations may correlate with neurological and behavioral performance in preterm infants at term-equivalent age.
• Brain structure-function relationships appear consistent across different degrees of preterm birth (very preterm vs. moderate-late preterm).
• Brain volume was not found to be related to neurological or behavioral function in this cohort.