Related Experiment Video

Updated: Sep 2, 2025

Preterm EEG: A Multimodal Neurophysiological Protocol
19:32

Preterm EEG: A Multimodal Neurophysiological Protocol

Published on: February 18, 2012

28.6K

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

Mary C Sullivan, Amy L D'Agata, Zachary Stanley

    Nursing Research
    |August 10, 2022
    PubMed

    Insights

    This study follows premature infants into adulthood, examining long-term health and development. Findings will inform interventions for preterm survivors, improving their life trajectories.

    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.
    Abstract

    More Related Videos

    Assessment and Evaluation of the High Risk Neonate: The NICU Network Neurobehavioral Scale19:15

    Assessment and Evaluation of the High Risk Neonate: The NICU Network Neurobehavioral Scale

    Published on: August 25, 2014

    86.3K
    A Novel Method for Involving Women of Color at High Risk for Preterm Birth in Research Priority Setting14:43

    A Novel Method for Involving Women of Color at High Risk for Preterm Birth in Research Priority Setting

    Published on: January 12, 2018

    12.0K

    Related Concept Videos

    Guidelines for Writing Outcome01:11

    Guidelines for Writing Outcome

    When developing expected outcomes for a patient care plan, the nurse should adhere to the following recommendations:
    Patient outcomes reflect the patient's response to the goal rather than what the nurse aims to achieve. Terminology should be observable and measurable to avoid the reader's interpretation. The desired outcome should be realistic and achievable in the designated care timeframe. Expected outcomes should align with adjunctive therapies. The outcome should enhance care...
    2.9K
    Regression Toward the Mean01:52

    Regression Toward the Mean

    Regression toward the mean (“RTM”) is a phenomenon in which extremely high or low values—for example, and individual’s blood pressure at a particular moment—appear closer to a group’s average upon remeasuring. Although this statistical peculiarity is the result of random error and chance, it has been problematic across various medical, scientific, financial and psychological applications. In particular, RTM, if not taken into account, can interfere when...
    6.5K
    Assumptions of Survival Analysis01:15

    Assumptions of Survival Analysis

    Survival models analyze the time until one or more events occur, such as death in biological organisms or failure in mechanical systems. These models are widely used across fields like medicine, biology, engineering, and public health to study time-to-event phenomena. To ensure accurate results, survival analysis relies on key assumptions and careful study design.
    180
    Longitudinal Research02:20

    Longitudinal Research

    Sometimes we want to see how people change over time, as in studies of human development and lifespan. When we test the same group of individuals repeatedly over an extended period of time, we are conducting longitudinal research. Longitudinal research is a research design in which data-gathering is administered repeatedly over an extended period of time. For example, we may survey a group of individuals about their dietary habits at age 20, retest them a decade later at age 30, and then again...
    12.3K