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Published on: September 6, 2017
Neonatal Physical Growth Predicts Electroencephalography Power in Rural South African Children
Amanda R Tarullo1, Denise Evans2, Lezanie Coetzee2
1Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, College of Arts and Sciences, Boston University, Boston, MA 02215, USA.
Insights
Neonatal head circumference and length predict infant brain activity, particularly gamma, beta, alpha, and theta power, in under-resourced settings. These associations were strongest at 7 months, highlighting early growth
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Developmental Biology
- Pediatrics
Background:
- Anthropometric measures at birth reflect prenatal growth and are linked to cognitive development.
- Children in low- and middle-income countries (LMIC) face higher risks of impaired growth and cognitive deficits.
- Early childhood neuroimaging research is scarce in LMIC, limiting understanding of neonatal growth and neural activity links.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the association between birth anthropometrics (head circumference, length, weight) and electroencephalogram (EEG) relative power in infants.
- To explore these associations in a rural LMIC setting (Limpopo Province, South Africa).
- To control for postnatal growth and socioeconomic status (SES) in the analysis.
Main Methods:
- Longitudinal study tracking EEG relative power in infants over the first three years of life.
- Analysis of birth head circumference, length, and weight as predictors of EEG power.
- Statistical controls for postnatal growth and socioeconomic status (SES).
Main Results:
- Larger birth head circumference predicted lower relative gamma and right hemisphere beta power, and higher relative alpha and theta power.
- Greater birth length was associated with lower relative gamma power.
- Associations were most pronounced at 7 months and diminished by 17 and 36 months, indicating time-dependent effects.
Conclusions:
- Birth head circumference and length are significant predictors of infant neural activity in under-resourced contexts.
- Early anthropometric measures provide insights into early brain development trajectories.
- Findings underscore the importance of early growth monitoring for neurodevelopmental outcomes in LMIC.
Abstract:
Anthropometric measures at birth, indexing prenatal growth, are associated with later cognitive development. Children in low- and middle-income countries (LMIC) are at elevated risk for impaired prenatal and early postnatal growth and enduring cognitive deficits. However, the associations of neonatal physical growth with neural activity are not well-characterized in LMIC contexts, given the dearth of early childhood neuroimaging research in these settings. The current study examined birth length, weight, and head circumference as predictors of EEG relative power over the first three years of life in rural Limpopo Province, South Africa, controlling for postnatal growth and socioeconomic status (SES). A larger head circumference at birth predicted lower relative gamma power, lower right hemisphere relative beta power, and higher relative alpha and theta power. A greater birth length also predicted lower relative gamma power. There were interactions with timepoints such that the associations of birth head circumference and length with EEG power were most pronounced at the 7-month assessment and were attenuated at the 17- and 36-month assessments. The results identify birth head circumference and length as specific predictors of infant neural activity within an under-resourced context.
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