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Long-Term Neurologic Consequences following Fetal Growth Restriction: The Impact on Brain Reserve
Divyen K Shah1,2, Susana Pereira3, Gregory A Lodygensky4,5
1Centre for Neuroscience and Trauma, Blizard Institute, Barts and the London School of Medicine and Dentistry, Queen Mary University of London, London, UK.
Insights
Fetal growth restriction (FGR) impacts fetal brain development and long-term cognitive outcomes. This review explores FGR diagnosis, brain imaging, and potential links to later-life dementia.
Area of Science:
- Perinatal Medicine
- Neuroscience
- Medical Imaging
Background:
- Fetal growth restriction (FGR) is a critical condition where a fetus fails to reach its genetic growth potential, leading to significant morbidity and mortality.
- Chronic fetal hypoxia, a common factor in FGR, adversely affects fetal brain development.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the diagnostic and classification challenges associated with FGR.
- To examine the impact of chronic fetal hypoxia on brain development.
- To explore advances in placental and fetal brain imaging for studying FGR.
Main Methods:
- Review of current literature on FGR diagnosis and classification.
- Analysis of research on fetal hypoxia and brain development.
- Examination of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) advancements in placental and fetal brain imaging.
Main Results:
- FGR poses challenges in accurate diagnosis and classification.
- Chronic fetal hypoxia significantly impacts fetal brain development.
- Advanced MRI techniques offer noninvasive methods to study FGR in humans.
Conclusions:
- FGR has lasting consequences beyond the perinatal period.
- Impaired brain reserve due to FGR may predict cognitive decline and dementia risk in aging individuals.
- Further research into FGR's long-term neurological impact is warranted.
Background:
Fetal growth restriction (FGR) corresponds to the fetus's inability to achieve an adequate weight gain based on genetic potential and gestational age. It is an important cause of morbidity and mortality.
Summary:
In this review, we address the challenges of diagnosis and classification of FGR. We review how chronic fetal hypoxia impacts brain development. We describe recent advances on placental and fetal brain imaging using magnetic resonance imaging and how they offer new noninvasive means to study growth restriction in humans. We go on to review the impact of FGR on brain integrity in the neonatal period, later childhood, and adulthood and review available therapies.
Key Messages:
FGR consequences are not limited to the perinatal period. We hypothesize that impaired brain reserve, as defined by structure and size, may predict some concerning epidemiological data of impaired cognitive outcomes and dementia with aging in this group of patients.
Background:
Fetal growth restriction (FGR) corresponds to the fetus's inability to achieve an adequate weight gain based on genetic potential and gestational age. It is an important cause of morbidity and mortality.
Summary:
In this review, we address the challenges of diagnosis and classification of FGR. We review how chronic fetal hypoxia impacts brain development. We describe recent advances on placental and fetal brain imaging using magnetic resonance imaging and how they offer new noninvasive means to study growth restriction in humans. We go on to review the impact of FGR on brain integrity in the neonatal period, later childhood, and adulthood and review available therapies.
Key Messages:
FGR consequences are not limited to the perinatal period. We hypothesize that impaired brain reserve, as defined by structure and size, may predict some concerning epidemiological data of impaired cognitive outcomes and dementia with aging in this group of patients.
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