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Associations Among Birth Weight, Adrenarche, Brain Morphometry, and Cognitive Function in Preterm Children Ages 9 to

Weibin Ji1, Guanya Li1, Yang Hu1

  • 1Center for Brain Imaging, School of Life Science and Technology, Xidian University and Engineering Research Center of Molecular and Neuro Imaging, Ministry of Education, Xi'an, Shaanxi, China; International Joint Research Center for Advanced Medical Imaging and Intelligent Diagnosis and Treatment and Xi'an Key Laboratory of Intelligent Sensing and Regulation of trans-Scale Life Information, School of Life Science and Technology, Xidian University, Xi'an, Shaanxi, China.

Biological Psychiatry. Cognitive Neuroscience and Neuroimaging
|February 28, 2024
PubMed

Insights

Low birth weight in preterm infants is linked to long-term cognitive and brain development issues, with early puberty onset playing a role. This research highlights critical associations for future interventions.

Area of Science:

  • Neuroscience
  • Developmental Biology
  • Pediatrics

Background:

  • Preterm birth and low birth weight increase risks for lasting neurological and cognitive deficits.
  • Endocrine and metabolic changes associated with preterm birth may impact brain development.
  • Limited research exists on the interplay between birth weight, puberty, and long-term neurodevelopment.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the associations between birth weight and brain structure, cognitive function, and pubertal onset.
  • To examine these relationships in both preterm and full-term children.

Main Methods:

  • Utilized data from 3571 children in the Adolescent Brain Cognitive Development (ABCD) Study.
  • Assessed birth weight, brain morphometry, cognitive function, and onset of adrenarche (puberty marker).
  • Analyses were conducted 9 to 11 years after birth.

Main Results:

  • Lower birth weight and earlier adrenarche were observed in preterm children.
  • Birth weight positively correlated with cognitive function and global/regional brain volumes in all children.
  • Lateral orbitofrontal cortex volume mediated the effect of low birth weight on cognition in preterm children.

Conclusions:

  • Low birth weight significantly impacts long-term brain structure and cognitive function.
  • Early adrenarche is associated with these effects, particularly in preterm children.
  • Findings offer insights for potential prevention and treatment strategies.
Abstract

Keywords:
ABCDAdrenarcheCognitionPreterm birthPubertyStructural neuroimaging

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