Nurturing the preterm infant brain: leveraging neuroplasticity to improve neurobehavioral outcomes

Interactive roles of preterm-birth and socioeconomic status in cortical thickness of language-related brain structures: Findings from the Adolescent Brain Cognitive Development (ABCD) study

Preterm-born (PTB) children are at an elevated risk for neurocognitive difficulties in general and language difficulties more specifically. Environmental factors such as socio-economic status (SES) play a key role for Term children's language development. SES has been shown to predict PTB children's behavioral developmental trajectories, sometimes surpassing its role for Term children. However, the role of SES in the neurocognitive basis of PTB children's language development remains uncharted. Here, we aimed to evaluate the role of SES in the neural basis of PTB children's language performance. Leveraging the Adolescent Brain Cognitive Development (ABCD) Study, the largest longitudinal study of adolescent brain development and behavior to date, we showed that prematurity status (PTB versus Term) and multiple aspects of SES additively predict variability in cortical thickness, which is in turn related to children's receptive vocabulary performance. We did not find evidence to support the differential role of environmental factors for PTB versus Term children, underscoring that environmental factors are significant contributors to development of both Term and PTB children. Taken together, our results suggest that the environmental factors influencing language development might exhibit similarities across the full spectrum of gestational age.

Current Evidence Regarding the Evaluation and Management of Neonatal Delirium

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

Newborns and infants in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) may be at uniquely high risk of developing delirium. Because there is a dearth of NICU-focused literature, providers must rely on evidence derived from older children and infants in other care settings to guide management. The literature was rigorously reviewed to highlight evidence specific to newborns and infants and is summarized here.

RECENT FINDINGS

Delirium likely occurs in newborns and infants at similar or higher rates than what is seen in other care settings. Recent literature calls particular attention to the lack of assessment tools validated in a NICU setting. Evidence for the evaluation and management of delirium in the NICU is lacking. More study specific to the NICU is needed to build consensus toward best practice.

A Scoping Review of Multimodal, Dyadic Early Relational Health Interventions in NICUs in the United States

BACKGROUND

Early relational health (ERH) interventions can buffer toxic stress and improve the developmental trajectories of neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) infants.

PURPOSE

The purpose was to examine the current state of the science related to multimodal, dyadic ERH interventions implemented in the NICU setting in the United States and identify gaps in the current literature.

DATA SOURCES

PubMed, Scopus, Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature (CINAHL), and PsycInfo were searched in November 2022 and November 2023 for original studies and conference proceedings from 1970 to present in the English language. Gray literature searches were performed in February 2023 and December 2023.

STUDY SELECTION

English language, original research, with a focus on multimodal, dyadic ERH interventions that took place primarily in a NICU in the United States were included. Outcome measures could be related to implementation, relational health, or physical and/or mental health outcomes of parent and/or infant. Eighteen of 2021 reviewed articles met the inclusion criteria.

DATA EXTRACTION

Data were extracted for author, year, intervention, purpose, methods, sample, paternal inclusion, dyadic components, non-dyadic components, and major outcomes/results and distilled for study characteristics, multimodal, dyadic intervention characteristics, and outcome measures.

RESULTS

Several multimodal dyadic interventions exist to aid ERH in the NICU, providing evidence of improved outcomes for infants and families. More research is required using higher sample sizes and replication studies.

IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE AND RESEARCH

ERH interventions show promise in improving neurodevelopmental, behavioral, and maternal mental health outcomes and should be considered for implementation into NICU services.

The Best Start Trial: A randomised controlled trial of ultra-early parent-administered physiotherapy for infants at high risk of cerebral palsy or motor delay

BACKGROUND

It is unknown whether ultra-early physiotherapy commenced during neonatal intensive care unit admission is of value for optimising developmental outcomes in preterm/term infants at high-risk of cerebral palsy or motor-delay.

AIMS

To determine whether ultra-early parent-administered physiotherapy to preterm/term high- risk infants commenced at earliest from 34-weeks post menstrual age, improves motor outcomes at 16-weeks corrected age (CA) compared to usual care.

METHODS

Single-blind randomised controlled pilot study with 30 infant participants. The primary outcome was the Alberta Infant Motor Scale (AIMS) total score at 16-weeks CA. Secondary outcomes included (i) parent Depression Anxiety and Stress Score and Parent Perceptions Survey at 16-weeks CA; and (ii) Bayley Scales of Infant Development at 12-months CA.

RESULTS

There were no clinically worthwhile effects at 16-weeks CA on the AIMS (mean between-group difference, 95% CI: -0.2, -2.4 to 2.0) or most secondary outcomes. However, the parents' "perception of treatment effectiveness" and "perception of change" favoured the experimental group.

CONCLUSIONS

In this pilot trial, there was no clinically worthwhile effect of ultra-early parent-administered physiotherapy over usual care on the AIMS. However, the intervention was feasible for infants, acceptable to parents and parents perceived a benefit of treatment. Whilst this trial did not demonstrate treatment effectiveness using the AIMS, these findings should be interpreted cautiously because of the small sample size, the low responsivity of the AIMS to change in motor performance and the heterogeneity of the participants. Therefore, the intervention should not be abandoned on the basis of this trial, but rather further evaluated in a larger trial that addresses some of the learnings from this one.

Predictive validity of the Standardized Infant NeuroDevelopmental Assessment (SINDA) to identify 4-5 year-old children at risk of developmental delay in a low-risk sample

BACKGROUND

Early detection of developmental problems is important as it allows for early intervention. Previous studies, in high-risk infants, found high predictive values of atypical scores on the Standardized Infant NeuroDevelopmental Assessment (SINDA) for later neurodevelopmental disorders (i.e., cerebral palsy, intellectual disability).

AIMS

The present study explored SINDA's predictive values to identify risk of developmental delay at 4-5 years.

STUDY DESIGN

Cohort study.

SUBJECTS

786 low-risk Dutch children (367 boys; median gestational age: 40 (27-42) weeks; mean birth weight: 3455 (SD 577) grams).

OUTCOME MEASURES

The SINDA was assessed at 2-12 months and risk of developmental delay was assessed using the Ages and Stages Questionnaire (ASQ) at 4-5 years. SINDA's predictive values were determined for five ASQ domains and the total ASQ score for children at risk of marked (all ASQ domains deviant) and any (one or more ASQ domains deviant) developmental delay.

RESULTS

Presence of one atypical SINDA scale score showed low to moderate sensitivities (12-88 %, depending on the SINDA scale and ASQ domain involved), moderate to high specificities (66-94 %), low positive predictive values (PPVs; 3-16 %), and high negative predictive values (NPVs; 95-100 %) for children at risk of marked and any developmental. Presence of multiple atypical SINDA scale scores predicted deviant ASQ domains slightly better (sensitivities = 11-62 %, specificities = 90-98 %, PPVs = 6-30 %, and NPVs = 95-100 %).

CONCLUSIONS

In low-risk infants, SINDA's predictive value is low for detecting children at risk of marked and any developmental delay at 4-5 years, as reflected by the low sensitivities. One of the explanations is the relatively low prevalence of developmental delay in low-risk populations. This might have consequences for the application of the SINDA in general healthcare settings (e.g. child health clinics), but further studies are needed to draw this conclusion.

Interventions and their efficacy in supporting language development among preterm children aged 0-3 years - A systematic review

BACKGROUND

Preterm children have a higher risk for linguistic delays than full-term infants but are rarely provided with language intervention at an early age. Knowledge on early language interventions targeted to preterm children is scarce, and efficacy of the interventions is rarely reported.

AIM

This systematic review aims to identify interventions for preterm children aged 0-3 years with at least one language outcome. Efficacy of the interventions and quality of the study reports were evaluated.

STUDY DESIGN

The article search was carried out in six databases: EBSCOhost, Scopus, ERIC, LLBA, Ovid, and Web of Science. Effect sizes (Hedges' g) were calculated for language outcomes. Quality of the study reports was assessed using the levels of evidence system by the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association.

RESULTS

The 28 studies identified were divided into three groups: interventions at Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, interventions during the first year, and interventions during the second and/or third years. Most of the interventions focused on supporting child-care and general development. Of the interventions, 61 % were efficacious in supporting language development of preterm children. The most promising results regarding efficacy were interventions conducted during the second and/or third years (80 %). Quality of the reports varied from high/good (89 %) to low (11 %).

CONCLUSION

The 28 existing studies provide limited evidence of the efficacy of very early interventions promoting language development of preterm children. However, especially the results for interventions conducted during the second and/or third years show promise. More studies, particularly language-focused interventions with longer follow-ups, are needed.

Interventions to improve executive functions in children aged 3 years and under: A systematic review

BACKGROUND

Early executive functioning (EF) skills are foundational capabilities that predict school readiness, academic development and psychiatric risk. Early interventions enhancing these capabilities could have critical import in improving outcomes. However, to develop interventions, it is necessary to identify specific EF skills that will vary with child age. Thus, we aimed to examine the characteristics and efficacy of interventions targeting EF in infancy and early childhood up to age 3.

METHODS

A comprehensive search of PubMed, Embase, CINAHL and APA PsycINFO databases was performed for studies published before December 2022. Randomized and non-randomized studies of interventions designed to improve at least one EF skill in children ≤3 years were included. EF skills included attentional control, inhibition/self-regulation, activity initiation, working memory, cognitive flexibility, planning ability, problem-solving and performance monitoring. We independently extracted data, used the revised Cochrane Risk-of-Bias tool to assess the quality of the evidence and conducted Synthesis Without Meta-analysis (SWiM). The overall quality of the evidence and the strength of recommendations was determined using elements of the Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation (GRADE) approach.

RESULTS

Thirty-five studies met inclusion criteria (original n = 7467). Studies were highly variable in the EF skill targeted, target subject (i.e., child, parent and teacher), nature and dosage of the intervention, and timing of outcome assessment. Most interventions focused on improving impulse control and self-regulation. The overall quality of evidence was low to moderate with a high risk of bias, though six studies had low risk of bias but yielded mixed findings of efficacy.

CONCLUSIONS

The relatively small number of early EF intervention studies uses such variable methods that there is currently no converging evidence of efficacy to recommend a specific intervention. Thus, findings support the need for a more systematic, targeted approach to the design and implementation of early EF interventions for target populations.

Through Thick and Thin: Gesture and Speech Remain as an Integrated System in Atypical Development

Gesture and speech are tightly linked and form a single system in typical development. In this review, we ask whether and how the role of gesture and relations between speech and gesture vary in atypical development by focusing on two groups of children: those with peri- or prenatal unilateral brain injury (children with BI) and preterm born (PT) children. We describe the gestures of children with BI and PT children and the relations between gesture and speech, as well as highlight various cognitive and motor antecedents of the speech-gesture link observed in these populations. We then examine possible factors contributing to the variability in gesture production of these atypically developing children. Last, we discuss the potential role of seeing others' gestures, particularly those of parents, in mediating the predictive relationships between early gestures and upcoming changes in speech. We end the review by charting new areas for future research that will help us better understand the robust roles of gestures for typical and atypically-developing child populations.

Amygdala volumes and associations with socio-emotional competencies in preterm youth: cross-sectional and longitudinal data

BACKGROUND

Socio-emotional difficulties often result from very preterm (VPT) birth. The amygdala's developmental trajectory, including its nuclei, has been recognized as a significant factor in observed difficulties. This study aims to assess the relationship between amygdala volume and socio-emotional competencies in VPT children and adolescents.

METHODS

Socio-emotional competencies were assessed, and amygdala volumes, including subnuclei, were extracted automatically from structural scans in a cross-sectional cohort of VPT (n = 75) and full-term (FT, n = 41) aged 6-14 years. Group differences in amygdala volumes were assessed using ANCOVA, and associations with socio-emotional competencies were studied using partial least squares correlation (PLSC). In a VPT subgroup, additional longitudinal data with amygdala volumes at term-equivalent age (TEA) were manually extracted, growth rates calculated, and associations with school-age socio-emotional competencies investigated using PLSC.

RESULTS

Using cross-sectional data at school-age, amygdala volumes displayed comparable developmental patterns between the VPT and the FT groups. Greater volumes were associated with more emotional regulation difficulties in VPT and lower affect recognition competencies in FT. In the longitudinal VPT subgroup, no significant associations were found between amygdala volume trajectory and socio-emotional competencies.

CONCLUSION

Although our findings suggest typical amygdala development after VPT birth, further research is necessary to elucidate the developmental trajectory of amygdala and the role of resilience factors.

IMPACT

In our cohort, amygdala volumes, including subnuclei, displayed comparable developmental trajectories between the very preterm and the full-term groups. Higher amygdala volumes at school-age were associated with higher emotional regulation difficulties in the very-preterm born group, and with lower affect recognition abilities in full-term born children and adolescents. In a subgroup of very-preterm children and adolescents followed from birth to school-age, no significant associations were found between amygdala volumes at term-equivalent age and socio-emotional competencies at school-age.

Training in neonatal neurocritical care: A case-based interdisciplinary approach

Interdisciplinary fetal-neonatal neurology (FNN) training strengthens neonatal neurocritical care (NNCC) clinical decisions. Neonatal neurological phenotypes require immediate followed by sustained neuroprotective care path choices through discharge. Serial assessments during neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) rounds are supplemented by family conferences and didactic interactions. These encounters collectively contribute to optimal interventions yielding more accurate outcome predictions. Maternal-placental-fetal (MPF) triad disease pathways influence postnatal medical complications which potentially reduce effective interventions and negatively impact outcome. The science of uncertainty regarding each neonate's clinical status must consider timing and etiologies that are responsible for fetal and neonatal brain disorders. Shared clinical decisions among all stakeholders' balance "fast" (heuristic) and "slow" (analytic) thinking as more information is assessed regarding etiopathogenetic effects that impair the developmental neuroplasticity process. Two case vignettes stress the importance of FNN perspectives during NNCC that integrates this dual cognitive approach. Clinical care paths evaluations are discussed for an encephalopathic extremely preterm and full-term newborn. Recognition of cognitive errors followed by debiasing strategies can improve clinical decisions during NICU care. Re-evaluations with serial assessments of examination, imaging, placental-cord, and metabolic-genetic information improve clinical decisions that maintain accuracy for interventions and outcome predictions. Discharge planning includes shared decisions among all stakeholders when coordinating primary care, pediatric subspecialty, and early intervention participation. Prioritizing social determinants of healthcare during FNN training strengthens equitable career long NNCC clinical practice, education, and research goals. These perspectives contribute to a life course brain health capital strategy that will benefit all persons across each and successive lifespans.

Early Intervention Guided by the General Movements Examination at Term Corrected Age-Short Term Outcomes

BACKGROUND AND AIM

The early identification of the former premature neonates at risk of neurologic sequelae could lead to early intervention and a better prognosis. This pilot study aimed to investigate whether the General Movement patterns observed at term-equivalent age in former premature infants could serve as predictors for guiding early intervention and improving prognosis.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

In a population of 44 premature neonates (mean gestational age 33.59 weeks (+2.43 weeks)) examined at term-equivalent age, 10 neonates with a cramped-synchronized General Movements motor pattern were identified. These neonates were included in an early intervention program consisting of physiotherapy executed both by the therapist and by the parents at home. They were again examined at a corrected age of 12 weeks. The presence or absence of fidgety movements and the MOS-R (motor optimality score revised) was noted. The examinations were performed by certified specialists.

RESULTS

Normal fidgety movements and a MOS-R of 20-24 were presented in 9/10 of the former premature infants, with normal foot to foot contact present in 7/10, and normal hand to hand contact present in 5/10. The atypical patterns noted were side to side movements of the head in 5/10, a non-centered head in 9/10, asymmetric tonic neck reflex in 9/10 and jerky movements in 10/10. One patient presented with no fidgety movements and a MOS-R score of 9.

CONCLUSION

Early intervention in our group of patients allowed for an improvement in the neurologic status, demonstrated by the presence of fidgety movements. We suggest that early intervention should be indicated in all premature infants that present with a cramped-synchronized GM pattern during examination at term-equivalent age. However, due to the small sample size, the absence of statistical analysis and a control group, and the limited follow-up period, the conclusions must be approached with caution.

Neuroprotective therapies in the NICU in preterm infants: present and future (Neonatal Neurocritical Care Series)

The survival of preterm infants has steadily improved thanks to advances in perinatal and neonatal intensive clinical care. The focus is now on finding ways to improve morbidities, especially neurological outcomes. Although antenatal steroids and magnesium for preterm infants have become routine therapies, studies have mainly demonstrated short-term benefits for antenatal steroid therapy but limited evidence for impact on long-term neurodevelopmental outcomes. Further advances in neuroprotective and neurorestorative therapies, improved neuromonitoring modalities to optimize recruitment in trials, and improved biomarkers to assess the response to treatment are essential. Among the most promising agents, multipotential stem cells, immunomodulation, and anti-inflammatory therapies can improve neural outcomes in preclinical studies and are the subject of considerable ongoing research. In the meantime, bundles of care protecting and nurturing the brain in the neonatal intensive care unit and beyond should be widely implemented in an effort to limit injury and promote neuroplasticity. IMPACT: With improved survival of preterm infants due to improved antenatal and neonatal care, our focus must now be to improve long-term neurological and neurodevelopmental outcomes. This review details the multifactorial pathogenesis of preterm brain injury and neuroprotective strategies in use at present, including antenatal care, seizure management and non-pharmacological NICU care. We discuss treatment strategies that are being evaluated as potential interventions to improve the neurodevelopmental outcomes of infants born prematurely.

Pain Exposure and Brain Connectivity in Preterm Infants

Importance

Early-life exposure to painful procedures has been associated with altered brain maturation and neurodevelopmental outcomes in preterm infants, although sex-specific differences are largely unknown.

Objective

To examine sex-specific associations among early-life pain exposure, alterations in neonatal structural connectivity, and 18-month neurodevelopment in preterm infants.

Design, Setting, and Participants

This prospective cohort study recruited 193 very preterm infants from April 1, 2015, to April 1, 2019, across 2 tertiary neonatal intensive care units in Toronto, Canada. Structural connectivity data were available for 150 infants; neurodevelopmental outcomes were available for 123 infants. Data were analyzed from January 1, 2022, to December 31, 2023.

Exposure

Pain was quantified in the initial weeks after birth as the total number of invasive procedures.

Main Outcome and Measure

Infants underwent early-life and/or term-equivalent-age magnetic resonance imaging with diffusion tensor imaging to quantify structural connectivity using graph theory measures and regional connection strength. Eighteen-month neurodevelopmental outcomes were assessed with the Bayley Scales of Infant and Toddler Development, Third Edition. Stratifying by sex, generalized estimating equations were used to assess whether pain exposure modified the maturation of structural connectivity using an interaction term (early-life pain exposure × postmenstrual age [PMA] at scan). Generalized estimating equations were used to assess associations between structural connectivity and neurodevelopmental outcomes, adjusting for extreme prematurity and maternal education.

Results

A total of 150 infants (80 [53%] male; median [IQR] gestational age at birth, 27.1 [25.4-29.0] weeks) with structural connectivity data were analyzed. Sex-specific associations were found between early-life pain and neonatal brain connectivity in female infants only, with greater early-life pain exposure associated with slower maturation in global efficiency (pain × PMA at scan interaction P = .002) and local efficiency (pain × PMA at scan interaction P = .005). In the full cohort, greater pain exposure was associated with lower global efficiency (coefficient, -0.46; 95% CI, -0.78, to -0.15; P = .004) and local efficiency (coefficient, -0.57; 95% CI, -1.04 to -0.10; P = .02) and regional connection strength. Local efficiency (coefficient, 0.003; 95% CI, 0.001-0.004; P = .005) and regional connection strength in the striatum were associated with cognitive outcomes.

Conclusions and Relevance

In this cohort study of very preterm infants, greater exposure to early-life pain was associated with altered maturation of neonatal structural connectivity, particularly in female infants. Alterations in structural connectivity were associated with neurodevelopmental outcomes, with potential regional specificities.

Parenting Influences on Frontal Lobe Gray Matter and Preterm Toddlers' Problem-Solving Skills

Children born preterm often face challenges with self-regulation during toddlerhood. This study examined the relationship between prematurity, supportive parent behaviors, frontal lobe gray matter volume (GMV), and emotion regulation (ER) among toddlers during a parent-assisted, increasingly complex problem-solving task, validated for this age range. Data were collected from preterm toddlers (n = 57) ages 15-30 months corrected for prematurity and their primary caregivers. MRI data were collected during toddlers' natural sleep. The sample contained three gestational groups: 22-27 weeks (extremely preterm; EPT), 28-33 weeks (very preterm; VPT), and 34-36 weeks (late preterm; LPT). Older toddlers became more compliant as the Tool Task increased in difficulty, but this pattern varied by gestational group. Engagement was highest for LPT toddlers, for older toddlers, and for the easiest task condition. Parents did not differentiate their support depending on task difficulty or their child's age or gestational group. Older children had greater frontal lobe GMV, and for EPT toddlers only, more parent support was related to larger right frontal lobe GMV. We found that parent support had the greatest impact on high birth risk (≤27 gestational weeks) toddler brain development, thus early parent interventions may normalize preterm child neurodevelopment and have lasting impacts.

Divergent neurodevelopmental profiles of very-low-birth-weight infants

BACKGROUND

Advanced perinatal medicine has decreased the mortality rate of preterm infants. Long-term neurodevelopmental outcomes of very-low-birth-weight infants (VLBWIs) remain to be investigated.

METHODS

Participants were 124 VLBWIs who had in-hospital birth from 2007 to 2015. Perinatal information, developmental or intelligence quotient (DQ/IQ), and neurological comorbidities at ages 3 and 6 years were analyzed.

RESULTS

Fifty-eight (47%) VLBWIs received neurodevelopmental assessments at ages 3 and 6 years. Among them, 15 (26%) showed DQ/IQ <75 at age 6 years. From age 3 to 6 years, 21 (36%) patients showed a decrease (≤-10), while 5 (9%) showed an increase (≥+10) in DQ/IQ scores. Eight (17%) with autism spectrum disorder or attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ASD/ADHD) showed split courses of DQ/IQ, including two with ≤-10 and one with +31 to their scores. On the other hand, all 7 VLBWIs with cerebral palsy showed DQ ≤35 at these ages. Magnetic resonance imaging detected severe brain lesions in 7 (47%) of those with DQ <75 and 1 (18%) with ASD/ADHD.

CONCLUSIONS

VLBWIs show a broad spectrum of neurodevelopmental outcomes after 6 years. These divergent profiles also indicate that different risks contribute to the development of ASD/ADHD from those of cerebral palsy and epilepsy in VLBWIs.

IMPACT

Very-low-birth-weight infants (VLBWIs) show divergent neurodevelopmental outcomes from age 3 to 6 years. A deep longitudinal study depicts the dynamic change in neurodevelopmental profiles of VLBWIs from age 3 to 6 years. Perinatal brain injury is associated with developmental delay, cerebral palsy and epilepsy, but not with ASD or ADHD at age 6 years.

Impact of Prematurity on Auditory Processing in Children

Prematurity is one of the most crucial risk factors negatively affecting the maturation of the auditory system. Children born preterm demonstrate high rates of hearing impairments. Auditory processing difficulties in preterm children might be a result of disturbances in the central auditory system development and/or sensory deprivation due to peripheral hearing loss. To investigate auditory processing in preterm children, we utilized a set of psychoacoustic tests to assess temporal processing and speech intelligibility. A total of 241 children aged 6-11 years old (136 born preterm and 105 healthy full-term children forming the control group) were assessed. The preterm children were divided into three groups based on their peripheral hearing status: 74 normal hearing (NH group); 30 children with bilateral permanent sensorineural hearing loss (SNHL group) and 32 children with bilateral auditory neuropathy spectrum disorder (ANSD group). The results showed significantly worse performance in all tests in premature children compared with full-term children. NH and SNHL groups showed significant age-related improvement in speech recognition thresholds in noise that might signify a "bottom-up" auditory processing maturation effect. Overall, all premature children had signs of auditory processing disorders of varying degrees. Analyzing and understanding the auditory processing specificity in preterm children can positively contribute to the more effective implementation of rehabilitation programs.

Parental cognitive stimulation in preterm-born children's neurocognitive functioning during the preschool years: a systematic review

In the United States, survival rates for preterm neonates (<37 weeks of gestation) have tripled in recent years. In parallel, preterm-born children show poorer performance in neurocognitive functioning compared to their full-term peers (≥39 weeks of gestation), and biological models predicting preterm-born children's neurocognitive performance have been met with limited success, highlighting a need to focus on environmental factors. Thus, this systematic review examines the literature on parental cognitive stimulation in relation to preterm-born children's neurocognitive outcomes. Studies were considered for inclusion if they included a sample of preterm-born children, included a measure of parental cognitive stimulation, and included a measure of child neurocognitive performance. The databases searched were PubMed, PsychINFO, CINAHL, ProQuest, and Scopus. Eight studies were included (44 unique associations). Findings suggest that preterm-born children's language skills might be open to a wide range of qualitative and quantitative features of parental cognitive stimulation. Our findings suggest that parental cognitive stimulation matters for preterm-born children's neurocognitive performance. Future experiential models should examine the mechanistic roles of cognitive stimulation in relation to narrowed neurocognitive outcomes to better inform possible prevention and intervention efforts. IMPACT: This systematic review examines the literature on parental cognitive stimulation in relation to preterm-born children's neurocognitive outcomes. Our review demonstrates that preterm-born children's language skills might be open to a wide range of qualitative and quantitative features of parental cognitive stimulation. The emphasis on environmental factors might ultimately better inform possible prevention and intervention efforts for children at risk as they transition to formal schooling.

Longitudinal developmental trajectories of functional connectivity reveal regional distribution of distinct age effects in infancy

Prior work has shown that different functional brain networks exhibit different maturation rates, but little is known about whether and how different brain areas may differ in the exact shape of longitudinal functional connectivity growth trajectories during infancy. We used resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) during natural sleep to characterize developmental trajectories of different regions using a longitudinal cohort of infants at 3 weeks (neonate), 1 year, and 2 years of age (n = 90; all with usable data at three time points). A novel whole brain heatmap analysis was performed with four mixed-effect models to determine the best fit of age-related changes for each functional connection: (i) growth effects: positive-linear-age, (ii) emergent effects: positive-log-age, (iii) pruning effects: negative-quadratic-age, and (iv) transient effects: positive-quadratic-age. Our results revealed that emergent (logarithmic) effects dominated developmental trajectory patterns, but significant pruning and transient effects were also observed, particularly in connections centered on inferior frontal and anterior cingulate areas that support social learning and conflict monitoring. Overall, unique global distribution patterns were observed for each growth model indicating that developmental trajectories for different connections are heterogeneous. All models showed significant effects concentrated in association areas, highlighting the dominance of higher-order social/cognitive development during the first 2 years of life.

Cognitive assessment in preterms by Bayley-III: development in the first year and associated factors

OBJECTIVE

To analyze the cognitive development of preterm infants at six and 12 months of corrected age and the associations with perinatal and socioeconomic factors.

METHODS

Cognitive development of 40 infants (20 preterm and 20 full-term) at six and 12 months of age was evaluated using the Bayley-III scale. Correlations between cognitive outcome and associated factors were assessed using Spearman correlation. Stepwise multiple linear regression analysis with covariance was applied to identify changes on cognitive score between six and 12 months.

RESULTS

Bayley-III cognitive score in preterm group was significantly lower than in full-term group at both six and 12 months of age. Birth weight correlated with cognitive performance at six months and head circumference at birth at 12 months, in full-terms infants. The occurrence of necrotizing enterocolitis was inversely associated with cognitive score in preterms at 12 months. An increase in cognitive score was observed between six and 12 months in both groups, but the gain was more pronounced in preterms.

CONCLUSIONS

These findings suggest some cognitive recovery capacity in the first year despite the restrictions imposed by premature birth and emphasize the importance of early interventions in this population.

Parsing brain-behavior heterogeneity in very preterm born children using integrated similarity networks

Very preterm birth (VPT; ≤32 weeks' gestation) is associated with altered brain development and cognitive and behavioral difficulties across the lifespan. However, heterogeneity in outcomes among individuals born VPT makes it challenging to identify those most vulnerable to neurodevelopmental sequelae. Here, we aimed to stratify VPT children into distinct behavioral subgroups and explore between-subgroup differences in neonatal brain structure and function. 198 VPT children (98 females) previously enrolled in the Evaluation of Preterm Imaging Study (EudraCT 2009-011602-42) underwent Magnetic Resonance Imaging at term-equivalent age and neuropsychological assessments at 4-7 years. Using an integrative clustering approach, we combined neonatal socio-demographic, clinical factors and childhood socio-emotional and executive function outcomes, to identify distinct subgroups of children based on their similarity profiles in a multidimensional space. We characterized resultant subgroups using domain-specific outcomes (temperament, psychopathology, IQ and cognitively stimulating home environment) and explored between-subgroup differences in neonatal brain volumes (voxel-wise Tensor-Based-Morphometry), functional connectivity (voxel-wise degree centrality) and structural connectivity (Tract-Based-Spatial-Statistics). Results showed two- and three-cluster data-driven solutions. The two-cluster solution comprised a 'resilient' subgroup (lower psychopathology and higher IQ, executive function and socio-emotional scores) and an 'at-risk' subgroup (poorer behavioral and cognitive outcomes). No neuroimaging differences between the resilient and at-risk subgroups were found. The three-cluster solution showed an additional third 'intermediate' subgroup, displaying behavioral and cognitive outcomes intermediate between the resilient and at-risk subgroups. The resilient subgroup had the most cognitively stimulating home environment and the at-risk subgroup showed the highest neonatal clinical risk, while the intermediate subgroup showed the lowest clinical, but the highest socio-demographic risk. Compared to the intermediate subgroup, the resilient subgroup displayed larger neonatal insular and orbitofrontal volumes and stronger orbitofrontal functional connectivity, while the at-risk group showed widespread white matter microstructural alterations. These findings suggest that risk stratification following VPT birth is feasible and could be used translationally to guide personalized interventions aimed at promoting children's resilience.

Language environment and parent-infant close contact in neonatal care and emerging lexical abilities of very preterm children-a longitudinal study

AIM

This longitudinal study investigated associations between language environment and parent-infant close contact in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) and preterm children's lexical abilities.

METHODS

NICU language environment of 43 very preterm infants (born<32 gestational weeks) was measured with the Language Environment Analysis System (LENA; variables: number of adult words, conversational turns, and child vocalisations). Parent-infant close contact (holding and skin-to-skin contact) in the NICU was reported using parental closeness diaries. At 15 and 18 months' corrected age, lexical development was measured with screening methods, and eye tracking-based lexical processing was assessed at 18 months. N varied between 29 and 38 in different outcome measures.

RESULTS

LENA measured conversational turns and child vocalisations, and parent-infant close contact associated positively with lexical development (r = 0.35-0.57). High numbers of NICU adult words associated negatively with lexical processing (r = -0.38- -0.40). In regression models, conversational turns and parent-infant close contact explained 34%-35% of receptive development.

CONCLUSION

Findings suggest that adult-infant turn taking and parent-infant close contact in the NICU are positively associated with lexical development. High numbers of overheard words in the NICU may not favour later lexical processing. Further research is warranted on the significance of NICU language environment on later lexical abilities.

Association between the General Movement Optimality Score and clinical features in newborns during hospitalization: A cross-sectional study

AIMS

To describe the General Movements (GMs) of hospitalized newborns to verify if their global and detailed GMA are related and if their GMs are associated with clinical features.

METHODS

Cross-sectional study. Thirty-eight preterm and full-term newborns, who were hospitalized in the neonatal intermediate care unit of a reference hospital, were included. Prechtl's General Movement Assessment (GMA), including the General Movement Optimality Score (GMOS) list, was used as an assessment tool. Clinical variables, such as preterm birth, birthweight, length of hospitalization, Apgar scores, pregnancy problems, admission at neonatal intensive care unit, use of invasive mechanical ventilation, and brain imaging findings were also collected. Newborns were videoed at a single time for 3 min before discharge.

RESULTS

Most newborns presented GMs with normal or poor repertoire quality. GMOS ranged from 17 to 42 points. Scores were lower in abnormal GMs. Abnormal GMs were associated with preterm birth, length of hospital stay >30 days and birthweight <2500 g. Accordingly, lower GMOSs were also associated with preterm birth, a birthweight <2500 g and a hospital stay >30 days but also with the invasive mechanical ventilation application.

CONCLUSION

Preterm and full-term newborns presented normal or abnormal GMs during hospitalization. Preterm birth, low birthweight, longer hospital stay and a time period of invasive ventilation were associated with worse GM behaviors.

Interventions for Executive Function in High-Risk Infants and Toddlers

This review summarizes the current state of evidence regarding interventions for executive function in high-risk infants and toddlers. Currently, there is a paucity of data in this area, with the interventions that have been studied highly variable in their content, dosage, target, and results. Self-regulation is the executive function construct targeted the most, with mixed results. The few studies that report later child outcomes in prekindergarten/school-aged children are encouraging, overall indicating improved cognition and behavior in the children of parents who received a parenting style intervention.

Parenting Style Interventions in Parents of Preterm and High-Risk Infants: Controversies, Cost, and Future Directions

This review highlights the current state of evidence on interventions whose primary purpose is to change parenting style in parents of preterm, and other-high risk, infants. To date, interventions for parents of preterm infants are heterogeneous with variability in intervention timing, measured outcomes, program components, and cost. Most interventions target parental responsivity/sensitivity. Most reported outcomes are short-term, measured at age less than 2 years. The few studies that report later child outcomes in prekindergarten/school-aged children are encouraging, overall indicating improved cognition and behavior in the children of parents who received a parenting style intervention.

TwinEDA: a sustainable deep-learning approach for limb-position estimation in preterm infants' depth images

Early diagnosis of neurodevelopmental impairments in preterm infants is currently based on the visual analysis of newborns' motion patterns by trained operators. To help automatize this time-consuming and qualitative procedure, we propose a sustainable deep-learning algorithm for accurate limb-pose estimation from depth images. The algorithm consists of a convolutional neural network (TwinEDA) relying on architectural blocks that require limited computation while ensuring high performance in prediction. To ascertain its low computational costs and assess its application in on-the-edge computing, TwinEDA was additionally deployed on a cost-effective single-board computer. The network was validated on a dataset of 27,000 depth video frames collected during the actual clinical practice from 27 preterm infants. When compared to the main state-of-the-art competitor, TwinEDA is twice as fast to predict a single depth frame and four times as light in terms of memory, while performing similarly in terms of Dice similarity coefficient (0.88). This result suggests that the pursuit of efficiency does not imply the detriment of performance. This work is among the first to propose an automatic and sustainable limb-position estimation approach for preterm infants. This represents a significant step towards the development of broadly accessible clinical monitoring applications.

Early-life factors associated with neurobehavioral outcomes in preterm infants during NICU hospitalization

BACKGROUND

The aim of this study was to investigate the influence of early-life pain/stress and medical characteristics on neurobehavioral outcomes in preterm infants.

METHODS

A prospective cohort study was conducted with 92 preterm infants (28-32 weeks gestational age [GA]). Early-life pain/stress was measured via the Neonatal Infant Stressor Scale (NISS) during the first 28 days of NICU hospitalization. Neurobehavioral outcomes were evaluated using the NICU Network Neurobehavioral Scale at 36-38 weeks post-menstrual age. Functional regression and machine learning models were performed to investigate the predictors of neurobehavioral outcomes.

RESULTS

Infants experienced daily acute pain/stress (24.99 ± 7.13 frequencies) and chronic events (41.13 ± 17.81 h). Up to 12 days after birth, both higher acute and chronic NISS scores were associated with higher stress scores; and higher chronic NISS scores were also related to lower self-regulation and quality of movement. Younger GA predicted worse neurobehavioral outcomes; GA < 31.57 weeks predicted worse stress/abstinence, self-regulation, and excitability; GA < 30.57 weeks predicted poor quality of movement. A higher proportion of maternal breastmilk intake predicted better self-regulation, excitability, and quality of movement in older GA infants.

CONCLUSIONS

Preterm infants are vulnerable to the impact of early-life pain/stress. Neurobehavioral outcomes are positively associated with increased GA and higher maternal breastmilk intake.

IMPACT

During the first 12 days of life, preterm infant neurobehavioral outcomes were vulnerable to the negative impact of acute and chronic pain/stress. Future research is warranted to investigate the long-term effects of early-life pain/stress on neurobehavioral outcomes. Gestational age remains one of the critical factors to predict neurobehavioral outcomes in preterm infants; older gestational age significantly predicted better neurobehavioral outcomes. Feeding with a higher proportion of maternal breastmilk predicted better neurobehavioral outcomes. Future research is warranted to investigate how maternal breastmilk may buffer the negative effects of early-life pain/stress on neurobehavioral outcomes.

Neuroprotective therapies in the NICU in term infants: present and future

Outcomes of neonatal encephalopathy (NE) have improved since the widespread implementation of therapeutic hypothermia (TH) in high-resource settings. While TH for NE in term and near-term infants has proven beneficial, 30-50% of infants with moderate-to-severe NE treated with TH still suffer death or significant impairments. There is therefore a critical need to find additional pharmacological and non-pharmacological interventions that improve the outcomes for these children. There are many potential candidates; however, it is unclear whether these interventions have additional benefits when used with TH. Although primary and delayed (secondary) brain injury starting in the latent phase after HI are major contributors to neurodisability, the very late evolving effects of tertiary brain injury likely require different interventions targeting neurorestoration. Clinical trials of seizure management and neuroprotection bundles are needed, in addition to current trials combining erythropoietin, stem cells, and melatonin with TH. IMPACT: The widespread use of therapeutic hypothermia (TH) in the treatment of neonatal encephalopathy (NE) has reduced the associated morbidity and mortality. However, 30-50% of infants with moderate-to-severe NE treated with TH still suffer death or significant impairments. This review details the pathophysiology of NE along with the evidence for the use of TH and other beneficial neuroprotective strategies used in term infants. We also discuss treatment strategies undergoing evaluation at present as potential adjuvant treatments to TH in NE.

Postnatal maternal depressive symptoms and behavioural outcomes in term-born and preterm-born toddlers: a longitudinal UK community cohort study

OBJECTIVES

To examine the association between maternal depressive symptoms in the immediate postnatal period and offspring's behavioural outcomes in a large cohort of term-born and preterm-born toddlers.

DESIGN AND PARTICIPANTS

Data were drawn from the Developing Human Connectome Project. Maternal postnatal depressive symptoms were assessed at term-equivalent age, and children's outcomes were evaluated at a median corrected age of 18.4 months (range 17.3-24.3).

EXPOSURE AND OUTCOMES

Preterm birth was defined as <37 weeks completed gestation. Maternal depressive symptoms were assessed with the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS). Toddlers' outcome measures were parent-rated Child Behaviour Checklist 11/2-5 Total (CBCL) and Quantitative Checklist for Autism in Toddlers (Q-CHAT) scores. Toddlers' cognition was assessed with the Bayley Scales of Infant and Toddler Development-Third Edition (Bayley-III).

RESULTS

Higher maternal EPDS scores were associated with toddlers' higher CBCL (B=0.93, 95% CI 0.43 to 1.44, p<0.001, f2=0.05) and Q-CHAT scores (B=0.27, 95% CI 0.03 to 0.52, p=0.031, f2=0.01). Maternal EPDS, toddlers' CBCL and Q-CHAT scores did not differ between preterm (n=97; 19.1% of the total sample) and term participants. Maternal EPDS score did not disproportionately affect preterm children with respect to CBCL or Q-CHAT scores.

CONCLUSIONS

Our findings indicate that children whose mothers reported increased depressive symptoms in the early postnatal period, including subclinical symptoms, exhibit more parent-reported behavioural problems in toddlerhood. These associations were independent of gestational age. Further research is needed to confirm the clinical significance of these findings.

Sensory stimulation program improves developments of preterm infants in Southwest China: A randomized controlled trial

Preterm infants are prone to growth and developmental delay, especially social-emotional development. Sensory stimulation may benefit developmental outcomes for these vulnerable infants. This study aims to determine whether 5-integrated sensory stimulation (5-ISS) improves preterm infant social-emotional development. A randomized, parallel trial was conducted from November 2018 to January 2020 at three tertiary hospitals in Kunming, China. Preterm infants were eligible if gestational ages were from 28 to 36 weeks based on ultrasound results when discharged from neonatal wards. Two hundred preterm infants (male n = 110, female n = 90) were randomly allocated to the 5-ISS intervention group (n = 98) and the standard care group (n = 102). Social-emotional development was assessed with the Ages and Stages Questionnaires: Social-Emotional (ASQ:SE). Temperament was assessed with the Infant Behavior Questionnaire-Revised. Anthropometry, which included weight, length, and head circumference, was measured at corrected ages of 1, 3, and 6 months. Demographic and clinical characteristics were similar between the intervention and the standard care groups. At 1- and 3-month corrected age, no significant differences between the two groups were observed in terms of infant development and temperament. At 6 months, significant disparities were found in the social-emotional development scale (mean difference −0.29, 95% CI: −0.58, < -0.001, p = 0.01), infant length (mean difference 0.70, 95% CI: < 0.001, 1.4, p = 0.03), distress to limitation (p = 0.04), and sadness (p = 0.03). A mixed model revealed that the 5-ISS intervention positively affected social-emotional development, length, distress to limitation, and sadness for preterm infants. Integrated sensory stimulation has benefits on social-emotional development, temperament, and length for preterm infants. This program provides a feasible method to promote social-emotional development for preterm infants.

Improving Developmental Positioning in a Level III NICU Using Evidence-Based Teaching and a Standardized Tool: An Evidence-Based Quality Improvement Project

Positioning and handling is a core measure of developmental care that has been universally difficult to implement in the technical NICU environment. Appropriate positioning has been shown to not only improve postural and musculoskeletal outcomes, but enhance sensory development, physiologic stability, thermal regulation, behavioral organization, sleep facilitation, and brain development. In order to improve the developmental positioning practices of bedside nurses in a level III neonatal intensive care unit, a quality improvement project was initiated. Guided by the Iowa Model for Evidence-Based Practice, this project included an evidence-based educational intervention and a standardized positioning assessment tool. After the intervention, there was improvement in knowledge scores, and positioning scores increased from an average of 8.81 +/- 0.19 to 10.93 +/- 0.15.

Advanced Brain Imaging in Preterm Infants: A Narrative Review of Microstructural and Connectomic Disruption

Preterm birth disrupts the in utero environment, preventing the brain from fully developing, thereby causing later cognitive and behavioral disorders. Such cerebral alteration occurs beneath an anatomical scale, and is therefore undetectable by conventional imagery. Prematurity impairs the microstructure and thus the histological process responsible for the maturation, including the myelination. Cerebral MRI diffusion tensor imaging sequences, based on water’s motion into the brain, allows a representation of this maturation process. Similarly, the brain’s connections become disorganized. The connectome gathers structural and anatomical white matter fibers, as well as functional networks referring to remote brain regions connected one over another. Structural and functional connectivity is illustrated by tractography and functional MRI, respectively. Their organizations consist of core nodes connected by edges. This basic distribution is already established in the fetal brain. It evolves greatly over time but is compromised by prematurity. Finally, cerebral plasticity is nurtured by a lifetime experience at microstructural and macrostructural scales. A preterm birth causes a negative and early disruption, though it can be partly mitigated by positive stimuli based on developmental neonatal care.

Significant Improvement of Somatic Symptom Disorder With Brief Psychoeducational Intervention by PMHNP in Primary Care

OBJECTIVE

Patients with somatic symptom disorders (SSD) are prevalent in primary care, urgent care, and emergency rooms and present with reduced quality of life, increased disability, and suicidality . Criteria for SSD include (1) somatic symptoms that cause distress and disrupt life; (2) concurrent physical illness with thoughts and feelings that are disproportionate to the seriousness of the illness; and (3) distress which is persistent and causes suffering. The frequency of SSD in the general population is 5% to 7%; however, in primary care, it is 5% to 35% . Because patients present with anxiety, depression, and/or pain, providers are flummoxed when diagnostic findings do not match symptom intensity. The purpose of this project was to provide an intervention for patients with SSD and measure its effectiveness on their somatic symptoms.

METHOD

This study provided a single-session, 30-minute psychoeducational intervention for patients to explain brain pathways for pain and the body's response to stress, including scientific benefits of exercise and healthy diet. Patients were asked questions using the motivational interviewing technique OARS (open-ended question, affirmation, reflection, summary) and were encouraged to talk about their concerns. The study used a pre- and post-intervention visual analogue scale and a self-reported Patient Health Questionnaire-15 both before and 3 weeks post-intervention.

RESULTS

Measurements showed significant symptom improvement immediately after the intervention with sustained improvement 3 weeks post-intervention.

CONCLUSIONS

This intervention demonstrates an effective treatment for this insidious illness, which plagues up to 35% of patients in primary care.

Pharmacological and Non-Pharmacological Brain-Focused Clinical Practices for Premature Neonates at High Risk of Neuronal Injury

Objective:Disruption of smooth intrauterine brain development is a significant consequence of premature birth that may lead to adverse neurological outcomes. Although noteworthy progress has been made in the management of prematurity, the rates of neonatal morbidity and neurodevelopmental disorders remain high, underlining the need to find clinical practices that particularly protect the central nervous system. Aim:To identify recent articles regarding pharmacological and non-pharmacological brain-focused clinical practices (BFCP) for premature neonates at high risk of neuronal injury. Material and methods:We did an extensive search of PubMed and Google Scholar for relevant research published between 2000 and 2020. Results:Nineteen full-length original research papers fulfilled the inclusion criteria and were selected for the purpose of the present review. Non-pharmacological BFCP intend to improve the neonate's experience in the NICU environment and can be applied by a multidisciplinary team, while pharmacological ones are related to novel molecules that aim to quell apoptosis and inflammation or promote neurogenesis. Conclusion:In the future, a combination of pharmacological and non-pharmacological BFCP might be considered as the most promising protection and/or treatment provided in clinical practice to premature neonates at high risk of neuronal injury.

Proposing a care practice bundle for neonatal encephalopathy during therapeutic hypothermia

Neonates with neonatal encephalopathy (NE) often present with multi-organ dysfunction that requires multidisciplinary specialized management. Care of the neonate with NE is thus complex with interaction between the brain and various organ systems. Illness severity during the first days of birth, and not only during the initial hypoxia-ischemia event, is a significant predictor of adverse outcomes in neonates with NE treated with therapeutic hypothermia (TH). We thus propose a care practice bundle dedicated to support the injured neonatal brain that is based on the current best evidence for each organ system. The impact of using such bundle on outcomes in NE remains to be demonstrated.

Maternal verbal scaffolding: association with higher language skills for 20-month-old children with prenatal polysubstance exposure

BACKGROUND

The number of children with prenatal polysubstance exposure is increasing. Supportive mother-child interaction is a protective factor, which can ameliorate adverse effects of prenatal polysubstance exposure on developmental outcomes.

AIM

To examine the role of maternal verbal scaffolding on cognitive and language development in children with prenatal polysubstance exposure.

STUDY DESIGN

Pregnant women were recruited, and we prospectively followed mother-child dyads to 20 months of age. This analysis included 66 dyads (33 healthy controls and 33 with prenatal polysubstance exposure). Multivariable linear regression modelling was used to examine the cross-sectional association between maternal scaffolding and Bayley Scales of Infant and Toddler Development (BSID-III) score, as well as an interaction between the study group and scaffolding score.

OUTCOME MEASURES

The BSID-III cognitive and language score was used. Videotaped mother-child play was coded to obtain a maternal verbal scaffolding score. Effect sizes were measured using average differences in scores between groups.

RESULTS

There was no evidence of an association between study group and maternal scaffolding scores. Children in the polysubstance exposure group had lower cognitive and language scores compared to controls, but this association was not statistically significant after controlling for maternal education. Maternal scaffolding was predictive of language scores, with scores increasing by 1.24 points on average (95% CI: 0.42, 2.06) for every 1-point increase in scaffolding score after adjustment for covariates. There was no evidence of a study group-by-scaffolding interaction with respect to the language or cognitive scores.

CONCLUSIONS

Maternal scaffolding during play was associated with language development in children with and without prenatal polysubstance exposure.

The validity of the Language Environment Analysis system in two neonatal intensive care units

AIM

To evaluate the validity of the Language Environment Analysis (LENA) system's automatic measures in two neonatal intensive care units supporting parent-infant closeness, and in two Finno-Ugric languages: Finnish and Estonian.

METHODS

The sound environment of 70 very preterm infants was recorded for 16 h in the neonatal intensive care units with the LENA system roughly at the gestational age of 32 (+2) weeks. Of these, the recordings of 14 infants (20%, two 5-min samples with a high percentage of speech, totally 140 min) were analysed in detail and in two different ways. Parental closeness diaries were used to document the presence of the parents. Agreements between LENA system and human coder estimates were analysed.

RESULTS

Findings showed a high variation in agreements. The highest agreements were found in female and adult word counts (r = 0.91 and 0.95). The agreements for child vocalisation count, conversational turns and silence were modest or low (r = -0.03 to 0.64).

CONCLUSION

Our study provides novel information on the validity of the LENA system in the neonatal intensive care unit. Findings show that the LENA system provides valid information on adult words, but LENA estimates for child vocalisations were less valid at this early age.

Neuroplasticity associated with changes in conversational turn-taking following a family-based intervention

Children's early language environments are associated with linguistic, cognitive, and academic development, as well as concurrent brain structure and function. This study investigated neurodevelopmental mechanisms linking language input to development by measuring neuroplasticity associated with an intervention designed to enhance language environments of families primarily from lower socioeconomic backgrounds. Families of 52 4-to-6 year-old children were randomly assigned to a 9-week, interactive, family-based intervention or no-contact control group. Children completed pre- and post-assessments of verbal and nonverbal cognition (n = 52), structural magnetic resonance imaging (n = 45), and home auditory recordings of language exposure (n = 39). Families who completed the intervention exhibited greater increases in adult-child conversational turns, and changes in turn-taking mediated intervention effects on language and executive functioning measures. Collapsing across groups, turn-taking changes were also positively correlated with cortical thickening in left inferior frontal and supramarginal gyri, the latter of which mediated relationships between changes in turn-taking and children's language development. This is the first study of longitudinal neuroplasticity in response to changes in children's language environments, and findings suggest that conversational turns support language development through cortical growth in language and social processing regions. This has implications for early interventions to enhance children's language environments to support neurocognitive development.

Spatial Thinking in Term and Preterm-Born Preschoolers: Relations to Parent-Child Speech and Gesture

Spatial skills predict important life outcomes, such as mathematical achievement or entrance into Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) disciplines. Children significantly vary in their spatial performance even before they enter formal schooling. One correlate of children's spatial performance is the spatial language they produce and hear from others, such as their parents. Because the emphasis has been on spatial language, less is known about the role of hand gestures in children's spatial development. Some children are more likely to fall behind in their spatial skills than others. Children born premature (gestational age <37 weeks) constitute such a risk group. Here, we compared performance of term and preterm-born children on two non-verbal spatial tasks-mental transformation and block design. We also examined relations of children's performance on these tasks to parental spatial language and gesture input and their own production of spatial language and gesture during an independent puzzle play interaction. We found that while term and preterm-born children (n = 40) as a group did not differ in the mental transformation or block design performance, children varied widely in their performance within each group. The variability in mental transformation scores was predicted by both a subset of spatial words (what aspects of spatial information) and all spatial gestures children produced. Children's spatial language and gesture were in turn related to their parents' spatial language and gesture. Parental spatial language and gesture had an indirect relation on children's mental transformation, but not block design, scores via children's spatial language, and gesture use. Overall, results highlight the unique contributions of speech and gesture in communicating spatial information and predicting children's spatial performance.

Frühgeburtlichkeit und langfristige Folgen bis ins Schulalter

Zusammenfassung. Theoretischer Hintergrund: Frühgeborene (FG) haben ein erhöhtes langfristiges Entwicklungsrisiko. Dennoch gibt es in Deutschland kein konzertiertes Vorgehen zur Nachsorge bis ins Schulalter. Die heutigen Erkenntnisse zu Entwicklungsstörungen sind Grundlage einer qualifizierten Förderung. Fragestellung: Wie hoch sind Schulrückstellungsraten bei FG? Wie wird den schulischen Bedürfnissen FG Rechnung getragen? Methode: Evaluation der Schulrückstellung in einer aktuellen Kohorte sehr kleiner FG und qualitative Befragung von Lehrer_innen. Ergebnisse: Das Risiko für Schulrückstellungen ist bei FG erhöht. Lehrer_innen haben ein limitiertes Wissen zu Bedürfnissen FG und gleichzeitig hilfreiche Vorschläge für spezifische Förderung im Unterricht. Diskussion und Schlussfolgerung: Langfristige entwicklungsneurologische Nachsorge für FG ist dringend empfohlen, um potenzielle Probleme früh zu identifizieren, Interventionen zu initiieren und eine optimale Entfaltung des Entwicklungspotentials zu fördern.

The social ecology of childhood and early life adversity

An increasing prevalence of early childhood adversity has reached epidemic proportions, creating a public health crisis. Rather than focusing only on adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) as the main lens for understanding early childhood experiences, detailed assessments of a child's social ecology are required to assess "early life adversity." These should also include the role of positive experiences, social relationships, and resilience-promoting factors. Comprehensive assessments of a child's physical and social ecology not only require parent/caregiver surveys and clinical observations, but also include measurements of the child's physiology using biomarkers. We identify cortisol as a stress biomarker and posit that hair cortisol concentrations represent a summative and chronological record of children's exposure to adverse experiences and other contextual stressors. Future research should use a social-ecological approach to investigate the robust interactions among adverse conditions, protective factors, genetic and epigenetic influences, environmental exposures, and social policy, within the context of a child's developmental stages. These contribute to their physical health, psychiatric conditions, cognitive/executive, social, and psychological functions, lifestyle choices, and socioeconomic outcomes. Such studies must inform preventive measures, therapeutic interventions, advocacy efforts, social policy changes, and public awareness campaigns to address early life adversities and their enduring effects on human potential. IMPACT: Current research does not support the practice of using ACEs as the main lens for understanding early childhood experiences. The social ecology of early childhood provides a contextual framework for evaluating the long-term health consequences of early life adversity. Comprehensive assessments reinforced with physiological measures and/or selected biomarkers, such as hair cortisol concentrations to assess early life stress, may provide critical insights into the relationships between early adversity, stress axis regulation, and subsequent health outcomes.

Effects of Juvenile or Adolescent Working Memory Experience and Inter-Alpha Inhibitor Protein Treatment after Neonatal Hypoxia-Ischemia

Hypoxic-Ischemic (HI) brain injury in the neonate contributes to life-long cognitive impairment. Early diagnosis and therapeutic interventions are critical but limited. We previously reported in a rat model of HI two interventional approaches that improve cognitive and sensory function: administration of Inter-alpha Inhibitor Proteins (IAIPs) and early experience in an eight-arm radial water maze (RWM) task. Here, we expanded these studies to examine the combined effects of IAIPs and multiple weeks of RWM assessment beginning with juvenile or adolescent rats to evaluate optimal age windows for behavioral interventions. Subjects were divided into treatment groups; HI with vehicle, sham surgery with vehicle, and HI with IAIPs, and received either juvenile (P31 initiation) or adolescent (P52 initiation) RWM testing, followed by adult retesting. Error rates on the RWM decreased across weeks for all conditions. Whereas, HI injury impaired global performance as compared to shams. IAIP-treated HI subjects tested as juveniles made fewer errors as compared to their untreated HI counterparts. The juvenile group made significantly fewer errors on moderate demand trials and showed improved retention as compared to the adolescent group during the first week of adult retesting. Together, results support and extend our previous findings that combining behavioral and anti-inflammatory interventions in the presence of HI improves subsequent learning performance. Results further indicate sensitive periods for behavioral interventions to improve cognitive outcomes. Specifically, early life cognitive experience can improve long-term learning performance even in the presence of HI injury. Results from this study provide insight into typical brain development and the impact of developmentally targeted therapeutics and task-specific experience on subsequent cognitive processing.

A guided participation nursing intervention to theraupeutic positioning and care (GP_Posit) for mothers of preterm infants: protocol of a pilot randomized controlled trial

Background

In the NICU, interventions intended to enhance maternal sensitivity are indicated in order to optimize preterm infant development and long-term mother-infant attachment. A novel nursing intervention was developed following a theory-oriented methodology and is based upon the guided participation theory for mothers to participate in their preterm infant's therapeutic POSITioning and care (GP_Posit). The primary objective of this study is to evaluate the feasibility and acceptability of (i) the study design; and (ii) the experimental GP_Posit nursing intervention during NICU hospitalization. The secondary objective is to estimate the preliminary effects of GP_Posit on maternal and preterm infant outcomes.

Methods

A pilot parallel-group randomized clinical trial (RCT) was designed where mother-preterm infant dyads are being recruited and randomized to a control group (usual care) or experimental group (GP_Posit intervention). Data collection includes feasibility and acceptability data as well as preliminary effects on maternal sensitivity and infant neurodevelopment. Ethical approval from the University Hospital ethical board was obtained in January 2018 (2017-1540).

Discussion

Data collection for this pilot study is expected to end in 2020. Results of this pilot study will inform about the feasibility and acceptability of the study design and GP_Posit intervention, a nursing intervention having the potential to favor maternal sensitivity and infant neurodevelopment in the NICU and guide the elaboration of a large-scale RCT.

Trial registration

clinicaltrial.gov, NCT03677752. Registered 19 September 2018.

The effect of preterm birth, recurrent laryngeal nerve lesion, and postnatal maturation on hyoid and thyroid movements, and their coordination in infant feeding

Movements of the hyoid and thyroid are critical for feeding. These structures are often assumed to move in synchrony, despite evidence that neurologically compromised populations exhibit altered kinematics. Preterm infants are widely considered to be a neurologically compromised population and often experience feeding difficulties, yet measuring performance, and how performance matures in pediatric populations is challenging. Feeding problems are often compounded by complications arising from surgical procedures performed to ensure the survival of preterm infants, such as damage to the recurrent laryngeal nerve (RLN) during patent ductus arteriosus correction surgery. Here, we used a validated infant pig model for infant feeding to test how preterm birth, postnatal maturation, and RLN lesion interact to impact hyoid and thyroid excursion and their coordination. We filmed infant pigs when feeding using videofluorscopy at seven days old (1-2 months human equivalent) and 17 days old (6-9 months human equivalent) and tracked movements of the hyoid and thyroid on both days. We found that preterm birth impacted the coordination between hyoid and thyroid movements, but not their actual excursion. In contrast, excursion of the two structures increased with postnatal age in term and preterm pigs. RLN lesion decreased thyroid excursion, and primarily impacted hyoid movements by increasing variation in hyoid excursion. This work demonstrates that RLN lesion and preterm birth have distinct, but pervasive effects on feeding performance in infants, and suggest that interventions targeted towards reducing dysphagia should be prescribed based off the etiology driving dysphagia, rather than the prognosis of dysphagia.