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A Follow-Up Study of Cognitive Development in Low Risk Preterm Children

Miguel Pérez-Pereira1, María Pilar Fernández2, María Luisa Gómez-Taibo2

  • 1Department of Developmental and Educational Psychology, University of Santiago de Compostela, 15782 Santiago de Compostela, Spain.

International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health
|April 5, 2020
PubMed

Insights

Cognitive development trajectories for full-term and preterm children were similar across different gestational ages (GA). Early cognitive results and working memory, not GA, predicted later development in healthy preterm infants.

Area of Science:

  • Developmental Psychology
  • Pediatric Neurology
  • Cognitive Science

Background:

  • Preterm birth can impact neurodevelopment, but outcomes vary.
  • Understanding cognitive development trajectories in preterm infants is crucial.
  • Identifying predictors of cognitive development is essential for early intervention.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To compare cognitive development in full-term versus preterm infants across different gestational ages (GA).
  • To identify biomedical, environmental, and individual factors predicting cognitive development at 22 and 60 months.
  • To determine if gestational age predicts cognitive outcomes in preterm children.

Main Methods:

  • Longitudinal study of 181 participants (1 full-term group, 3 preterm groups) categorized by gestational age.
  • Cognitive development assessed using the Batelle scale at 22 and 60 months.
  • Repeated measures ANOVA and linear regression analyses employed to examine group differences and predictive factors.

Main Results:

  • Cognitive trajectories were similar across all gestational age groups.
  • Biological factors and home environment quality moderately influenced cognitive development at 22 months.
  • Cognitive performance at 22 months and working memory were significant predictors of cognitive development at 60 months; GA was not a predictor.

Conclusions:

  • Gestational age does not predict cognitive development in this cohort.
  • Healthy preterm children do not necessarily experience cognitive delay.
  • Early cognitive assessment and environmental factors are key to understanding long-term cognitive outcomes.

Keywords:
cognitive developmentlongitudinal studypredictive factorspreterm children

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