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Long-term associations between perinatal factors and white matter microstructure at 8-10 years
Injoong Kim1,2, Omar Azrak2, Mark Foster2
1Department of Radiology, Veterans Health Service Medical Center, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
Frontiers in Human Neuroscience
|March 2, 2026
Summary
Gestational age and birth weight significantly impact white matter microstructure in school-aged children. These perinatal factors, particularly axial diffusivity, are linked to long-term brain development.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Developmental Biology
- Medical Imaging
Background:
- Perinatal factors significantly influence early brain development.
- Long-term effects of perinatal factors on white matter microstructure are not fully understood.
- Previous studies using tract-based spatial statistics (TBSS) showed limited associations.
Purpose of the Study:
- Investigate associations between perinatal factors (birth weight, gestational age, head circumference) and white matter microstructure.
- Examine long-term impacts on brain development in school-aged children.
- Utilize advanced diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) analysis.
Main Methods:
- Analyzed DTI data from 117 children aged 8-10 years.
- Employed a fiber tract-based framework covering 54 major white matter tracts.
- Used functional analysis of fiber tract profiles for statistical assessment.
Main Results:
- Gestational age and birth weight showed widespread associations with white matter microstructure (38 and 36 tracts, respectively).
- Head circumference had limited associations (3 tracts).
- Axial diffusivity (AD) showed stronger associations than radial diffusivity (RD) or fractional anisotropy (FA), particularly with birth weight and gestational age.
Conclusions:
- Gestational age and birth weight are linked to widespread white matter organization differences at school age.
- Axial diffusivity variations suggest impacts on axonal characteristics.
- Early-life biological measures relate to later white matter microstructure, warranting further research into developmental mechanisms.
