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Patterns of Fetal and Infant Growth and Brain Morphology at Age 10 Years
Carolina C V Silva1,2, Hanan El Marroun2,3,4, Sara Sammallahti1,3
1The Generation R Study Group, Erasmus MC, University Medical Center Rotterdam, Rotterdam, the Netherlands.
Insights
Rapid fetal and infant weight gain is linked to larger brain volumes in children. Conversely, growth deceleration is associated with smaller brain volumes, highlighting critical growth periods for brain development.
Area of Science:
- Developmental neuroscience
- Pediatric imaging
- Growth and development
Background:
- Preterm birth and low birth weight impact childhood neurodevelopment.
- Critical periods of fetal and infant growth for neurodevelopment are not well understood.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the association between fetal and infant growth patterns and brain morphology in school-aged children.
Main Methods:
- Population-based prospective cohort study of 3098 children.
- Fetal weight assessed via ultrasonography; infant weight measured up to 24 months.
- Brain structure quantified using magnetic resonance imaging at age 10.
Main Results:
- Higher weight gain during fetal development and infancy correlated with larger total brain volume.
- Fetal and infant growth deceleration was linked to the smallest brain volumes.
- Peak weight velocity and peak body mass index were associated with increased brain volumes.
Conclusions:
- Fetal and infant weight growth patterns are critical for childhood brain volumes.
- Further research is needed to determine if these associations impact neurocognitive outcomes.
Importance:
Preterm birth and low birth weight are associated with brain developmental and neurocognitive outcomes in childhood; however, not much is known about the specific critical periods in fetal life and infancy for these outcomes.
Objective:
To examine the associations of fetal and infant growth patterns with brain morphology in children at school age.
Design, Setting, And Participants:
This population-based, prospective cohort study was conducted from February 1 to April 16, 2021, as a part of the Generation R Study in Rotterdam, the Netherlands. The study included 3098 singleton children born between April 1, 2002, and January 31, 2006.
Exposures:
Fetal weight was estimated in the second and third trimesters of pregnancy by ultrasonography. Infant weight was measured at birth and at 6, 12, and 24 months. Fetal and infant weight acceleration or deceleration were defined as a change in SD scores greater than 0.67 between time points. Infant measurements also included peak weight velocity, and age and body mass index reached at adiposity peak.
Main Outcomes And Measures:
Brain structure, including global and regional brain volumes, was quantified by magnetic resonance imaging at age 10 years.
Results:
The study evaluated 3098 children (mean [SD] age at follow-up, 10.1 [0.6] years; 1557 girls [50.3%]; and 1753 Dutch [57.8%]). One SD score-higher weight gain until the second and third trimesters, birth, and 6, 12, and 24 months was associated with larger total brain volume independently of growth during any other age windows (second trimester: 5.7 cm3; 95% CI, 1.2-10.2 cm3; third trimester: 15.3 cm3; 95% CI, 11.0-19.6 cm3; birth: 20.8 cm3; 95% CI, 16.4-25.1 cm3; 6 months: 15.6 cm3; 95% CI, 11.2-19.9 cm3; 12 months: 11.3 cm3; 95% CI, 7.0-15.6 cm3; and 24 months: 11.1 cm3; 95% CI, 6.8-15.4 cm3). Compared with children with normal fetal and infant growth, those with fetal and infant growth deceleration had the smallest total brain volume (-32.5 cm3; 95% CI, -53.2 to -11.9 cm3). Children with fetal weight deceleration followed by infant catch-up growth had similar brain volumes as children with normal growth. Higher peak weight velocity and body mass index reached at adiposity peak were associated with larger brain volumes. Similar results were observed for cerebral and cerebellar gray and white matter volumes.
Conclusions And Relevance:
This cohort study's findings suggest that both fetal and infant weight growth might be critical for cerebral and cerebellar brain volumes during childhood. Whether these associations link to neurocognitive outcomes should be further studied.
