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Brain morphometric changes in children born as small for gestational age without catch up growth
Tomozumi Takatani1, Tadashi Shiohama1, Rieko Takatani2
1Department of Pediatrics, Graduate School of Medicine, Chiba University, Chiba, Japan.
Frontiers in Neuroscience
|September 13, 2024
Summary
Infants born small for gestational age (SGA) who don't achieve catch-up growth show reduced left insula volume and thickness. This brain morphology difference may impact intellectual and psychological development.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Pediatrics
- Developmental Biology
Background:
- Most infants born small for gestational age (SGA) achieve catch-up growth, but some do not.
- Failure to achieve catch-up growth is linked to health risks, including neuropsychological issues.
- Limited data exists on the brain morphology of SGA infants who do not achieve catch-up growth.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the structural brain characteristics of children born SGA without catch-up growth.
- To identify specific brain regions affected by the lack of catch-up growth in SGA infants.
Main Methods:
- Voxel- and surface-based morphometric analyses were performed on T1-weighted brain MRI scans.
- Eight SGA infants without catch-up growth were compared to sixteen individuals with idiopathic short stature (ISS).
- Growth hormone (GH) deficiency was excluded in all participants; statistical analyses included t-tests and Benjamini-Hochberg correction.
Main Results:
- Morphometric analyses revealed decreased left insula thickness and volume in SGA infants without catch-up growth compared to the ISS group.
- Distinct morphological brain disparities were observed in SGA infants lacking catch-up growth.
Conclusions:
- The study identified specific brain morphology differences in SGA infants without catch-up growth.
- These findings may enhance the understanding of the association between SGA without catch-up growth and intellectual/psychological outcomes.
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