A Protocol to Assess Adult Outcomes at 30 Years Following Preterm Birth

Area of Science:

• Developmental Psychology
• Neonatology
• Epigenetics
• Public Health

Background:

• Premature birth presents significant adversity, impacting survivors' cognitive, physical, and mental health throughout life.
• The transition to adulthood is particularly challenging for individuals born prematurely, often marked by various difficulties.

Purpose of the Study:

• To present a comprehensive protocol for a 10th follow-up study of individuals born prematurely, now in their 30s.
• To investigate the long-term effects of neonatal stress, developmental context, biological mechanisms, and resilience in preterm survivors.

Main Methods:

• A prospective, five-group longitudinal study involving 215 term-born and preterm-born individuals (ages 30-35).
• Assessment of adult outcomes including health, executive function, and social competence, alongside novel measures of allostatic load (AL) and epigenetics.
• Objective assessments include body composition, exercise testing, biological sample collection, and actigraphy over an 8-hour protocol.

Main Results:

• Hypothesizes differences in life course trajectories for physical and psychological health, adaptive, and executive functions between term and preterm groups, controlling for socioeconomic risk.
• Allostatic load (AL) is expected to vary across groups and influence outcomes.
• Proximal protection and resilience are anticipated to mediate cumulative risks and AL.

Conclusions:

• This study is the sole U.S. investigation of premature infants at ages 30-35, incorporating molecular and genetic biomarkers.
• The findings will provide crucial insights into the timing and content of interventions for millions of preterm survivors reaching adulthood.
• Understanding life course development in preterm individuals is essential for improving long-term health and well-being.