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Corpus callosum structural characteristics in very preterm children and adolescents: Developmental trajectory and

Vanessa Siffredi1, Maria Chiara Liverani2, Dimitri Van De Ville1

  • 1Division of Development and Growth, Department of Paediatrics, Gynaecology and Obstetrics, Geneva University Hospitals, Geneva, Switzerland; Neuro-X Institute, École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne, Geneva, Switzerland; Department of Radiology and Medical Informatics, Faculty of Medicine, University of Geneva, Switzerland.

Developmental Cognitive Neuroscience
|February 13, 2023
PubMed

Insights

Very preterm birth impacts corpus callosum development, showing atypical maturation linked to poorer cognitive and socio-emotional skills in children and adolescents. This affects general intellectual and working memory functions.

Area of Science:

  • Neuroscience
  • Developmental Neuroscience
  • Radiology

Background:

  • Structural alterations in the corpus callosum are observed following preterm birth and persist throughout development.
  • The corpus callosum, the brain's largest white matter pathway, is crucial for interhemispheric communication.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate corpus callosum structural development in very preterm (VPT) individuals from childhood to adolescence.
  • To examine associations between callosal characteristics and general intellectual, executive, and socio-emotional functioning in VPT individuals.

Main Methods:

  • Utilized T1-weighted and multi-shell diffusion MRI in 79 VPT and 46 full-term control children (aged 6-14).
  • Extracted volumetric, diffusion tensor imaging (DTI), and neurite orientation dispersion and density imaging (NODDI) measures from 7 callosal segments using TractSeg.
  • Applied partial least squares correlation and cohort-based age normative modeling to analyze callosal development and neuropsychological outcomes.

Main Results:

  • Both VPT and control groups exhibited typical white matter maturation trends (increased FA, reduced ODI) associated with improved intellectual functioning.
  • Age-related normative modeling revealed atypical corpus callosum development in the VPT group, characterized by reduced maturation over time.
  • Reduced callosal maturation in VPT individuals correlated with poorer general intellectual functioning, working memory, and lower gestational age.

Conclusions:

  • Very preterm birth is associated with atypical corpus callosum development, impacting cognitive functions like general intellect and working memory.
  • The findings highlight the long-term neurodevelopmental consequences of preterm birth on white matter integrity and associated functional outcomes.

Keywords:
Corpus callosumDevelopmental trajectoryNeuropsychological functions: Structural characteristicsPrematurity

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