Altered brain metabolism contributes to executive function deficits in school-aged children born very preterm

Executive function deficits in children born very preterm (VPT) have been linked to anatomical abnormalities in white matter and subcortical brain structures. This study aimed to investigate how altered brain metabolism contributes to these deficits in VPT children at school-age.

Fifty-four VPT participants aged 8-13 years and 62 term-born peers were assessed with an executive function test battery. Brain metabolites were obtained in the frontal white matter and the basal ganglia/thalami, using proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS). N-acetylaspartate (NAA)/creatine (Cr), choline (Cho)/Cr, glutamate + glutamine (Glx)/Cr, and myo-Inositol (mI)/Cr were compared between groups and associations with executive functions were explored using linear regression.

In the frontal white matter, VPT showed lower Glx/Cr (mean difference: -5.91%, 95% CI [-10.50, -1.32]), higher Cho/Cr (7.39%, 95%-CI [2.68, 12.10]), and higher mI/Cr (5.41%, 95%-CI [0.18, 10.64]) while there were no differences in the basal ganglia/thalami. Lower executive functions were associated with lower frontal Glx/Cr ratios in both groups (β = 0.16, p = 0.05) and higher mI/Cr ratios in the VPT group only (interaction: β = -0.17, p = 0.02).

Long-term brain metabolite alterations in the frontal white matter may be related to executive function deficits in VPT children at school-age.

Very preterm birth is associated with long-term brain metabolite alterations in the frontal white matter. Such alterations may contribute to deficits in executive function abilities. Injury processes in the brain can persist for years after the initial insult. Our findings provide new insights beyond structural and functional imaging, which help to elucidate the processes involved in abnormal brain development following preterm birth. Ultimately, this may lead to earlier identification of children at risk for developing deficits and more effective interventions.