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Published on: August 25, 2014
Variations in brain morphometry among healthy preschoolers born preterm
Holly M Hasler1, Timothy T Brown2, Natacha Akshoomoff3
1Center for Human Development, University of California San Diego, United States of America; San Diego State University/University of California, San Diego Joint Doctoral Program in Clinical Psychology, United States of America.
Insights
Children born preterm show distinct brain structure differences by age five. These gray matter variations in cortical thickness and surface area suggest altered brain maturation impacting neurodevelopment.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Developmental Biology
- Pediatric Imaging
Background:
- Preterm birth increases neonatal brain injury risk, affecting brain maturation and long-term neurodevelopment.
- Even healthy preterm infants face subtle brain injuries impacting future cognitive function.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate gray matter morphometry in healthy children born preterm at 5 years of age.
- To analyze cortical thickness, surface area, and sulcal depth using MRI.
Main Methods:
- A cohort study comparing 52 preterm infants (<33 weeks gestational age) with 37 full-term infants.
- MRI data analyzed using FreeSurfer for cortical segmentation and morphometry calculations.
- Surface-based, voxel-wise analyses compared morphometric measures between groups.
Main Results:
- Preterm children exhibited thinner cortex in temporal/parietal regions and thicker cortex in occipital/inferior frontal regions.
- Reduced surface area was observed in the fusiform gyrus of preterm children.
- Sulcal depth varied, showing reductions in posterior parietal/inferior temporal areas and increases in middle temporal/medial parietal regions.
Conclusions:
- Significant regional differences in cortical thickness, surface area, and sulcal depth were found in 5-year-olds born preterm compared to full-term.
- Cortical thickness findings align with previous studies in older populations, suggesting persistent alterations.
- Sulcal depth differences may indicate maturational delays or permanent changes due to perinatal factors in preterm infants.
Background:
Preterm birth is associated with an increased risk of neonatal brain injury, which can lead to alterations in brain maturation. Despite being born without the most significant medical consequences of preterm birth, infants born early remain at increased risk for subtle brain injury that affects future neurodevelopment and functioning.
Aims:
To investigate the gray matter morphometry measures of cortical thickness, cortical surface area, and sulcal depth using MRI at 5 years of age in healthy children born preterm.
Study Design:
Cohort study.
Subjects:
Participants were 52 children born preterm (<33 weeks gestational age) and 37 children born full term.
Outcome Measures:
Cortical segmentation and calculation of morphometry measures were completed using FreeSurfer version 5.3.0 and compared between groups using surface-based, voxel-wise analyses.
Results:
The preterm group had a significantly thinner cortex in temporal and parietal regions while cortical thickness was significantly larger within occipital and inferior frontal regions. Surface area was significantly reduced within the fusiform gyrus. Sulcal depth was significantly lower within the posterior parietal and inferior temporal regions but greater in the middle temporal and medial parietal regions.
Conclusions:
Regional differences were found between preschoolers born preterm and full term in cortical thickness, surface area, and sulcal depth. Cortical thickness differences primarily overlapped with regions found in previous studies of older children and adults. Differences in sulcal depth may represent additional areas of maturational differences in preterm children. These findings likely represent a combination of delayed maturation and permanent alterations caused by the perinatal processes associated with preterm birth.
