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Updated: Jul 27, 2025
Preterm EEG: A Multimodal Neurophysiological Protocol
Published on: February 18, 2012
Early biomarkers of neurodevelopmental disorders in preterm infants: protocol for a longitudinal cohort study
Yilu Zhao1, Yunfeng Liu2, Xuping Gao1
1Child and Adolescent Mental Health, Peking University Sixth Hospital, Beijing, China.
Insights
Preterm infants face higher risks for neurodevelopmental disorders (NDDs) like autism and ADHD. This study identifies early brain biomarkers and environmental factors to predict NDDs in preterm children up to age six.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Developmental Pediatrics
- Biomarkers
Background:
- Preterm (PT) infants exhibit elevated risks for adverse neurodevelopmental outcomes, including autism spectrum disorder (ASD), attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), and other neurodevelopmental disorders (NDDs).
- These NDDs can significantly impair an individual's lifelong functioning.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate adverse neurodevelopmental outcomes, particularly NDDs, in PT children.
- To identify early aberrant brain developmental biomarkers associated with NDDs in PT children.
Main Methods:
- A prospective cohort study in Beijing, China, recruiting 400 PT infants and 200 full-term (FT) controls.
- Follow-up until 6 years of age, assessing neuropsychological functions, brain development (MRI, EEG, fNIRS), environmental factors (SES, maternal mental health, DNA methylation), and NDD diagnosis.
- Data analysis using regression and machine learning to compare outcomes and identify predictors.
Main Results:
- This section is to be filled once the study is completed and results are available.
Conclusions:
- This section is to be filled once the study is completed and conclusions are drawn.
Introduction:
Preterm (PT) infants are at high likelihood for poor neurodevelopmental outcomes, including autism spectrum disorder (ASD), attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and other neurodevelopmental disorders (NDDs), which could considerably impair the individuals' functions throughout their whole life. The current cohort study aims to investigate adverse outcomes, especially NDDs, in PT children, and the related early aberrant brain developmental biomarkers.
Methods And Analysis:
This is a prospective cohort study in Beijing, China. We plan to recruit 400 PT infants born at <37 weeks of gestational age (GA), and 200 full-term (FT) controls during the neonatal period (40 weeks corrected GA), then follow them up until they reach 6 years of age. This cohort is designed to assess neuropsychological functions, brain development, related environmental risk factors and the incidence of NDDs by using the following measures: (1) social, emotional, cognitive and sensorimotor functions; (2) MRI, electroencephalogram and functional near-infrared spectroscopy; (3) social economic status, maternal mental health and DNA methylation; and (4) symptoms and diagnosis of NDDs. Main data analyses will include comparing the neurodevelopment outcomes and brain developmental trajectories between PT and FT children using linear or logistic regressions and mixed-effects models. Regression analyses and machine learning will be used to identify early biological predictors and environmental risk or protective factors for later NDDs outcomes.
Ethics And Dissemination:
Ethical approval has been obtained from the research ethics committee of Peking University Third Hospital (M2021087). This study is under review in the Chinese Clinical Trial Register. The study results from the current cohort will be disseminated and popularised through social media to participating parents, as well as parents who are giving care to PT children.
