Measuring Cot-Side the Effects of Parenteral Nutrition on Preterm Cortical Function

Area of Science:

• Neuroscience
• Neonatology
• Computational Biology

Background:

• Early nutritional compromise post-preterm birth affects neurodevelopment.
• Lack of early functional measures for nutritional effects on neurodevelopment.
• Advancements in computational electroencephalography (EEG) enable early cortical activity assessment.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate if computational EEG metrics from early recordings reflect nutritional intake in the first week of life.
• To explore the association between energy and macronutrient intake and cortical activity maturation in preterm infants.
• To identify potential early functional biomarkers for nutritional interventions.

Main Methods:

• Analysis of multichannel EEG recordings at 32 and 36 weeks postmenstrual age in 28 preterm infants.
• Computation of quantitative EEG measures: spectral power, continuity, interhemispheric synchrony, and EEG maturational age (EMA).
• Monitoring of parenteral nutritional intake (energy, macronutrients) during the first week of life.

Main Results:

• Lower calories/carbohydrates correlated with reduced delta band spectral amplitude.
• Lower protein intake associated with increased EEG discontinuity.
• Higher protein and lipid intake correlated with increased interhemispheric synchrony and improved EMA.

Conclusions:

• Early nutritional balance in preterm infants influences brain activity maturation.
• Computational EEG metrics can serve as early functional biomarkers.
• These biomarkers show promise for evaluating therapeutic interventions in neonatal care.