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Muñoz JS, Giles ME, Vaughn KA, Wang Y, Landry SH, Bick JR, DeMaster DM. Parenting Influences on Frontal Lobe Gray Matter and Preterm Toddlers' Problem-Solving Skills. CHILDREN (BASEL, SWITZERLAND) 2024; 11:206. [PMID: 38397318 PMCID: PMC10887128 DOI: 10.3390/children11020206] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/30/2023] [Revised: 01/28/2024] [Accepted: 01/29/2024] [Indexed: 02/25/2024]
Abstract
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.
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Affiliation(s)
- Josselyn S. Muñoz
- Department of Cognitive Sciences, Rice University, Houston, TX 77005, USA;
| | - Megan E. Giles
- Children’s Learning Institute, The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, TX 77030, USA; (M.E.G.); (K.A.V.); (Y.W.); (S.H.L.)
| | - Kelly A. Vaughn
- Children’s Learning Institute, The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, TX 77030, USA; (M.E.G.); (K.A.V.); (Y.W.); (S.H.L.)
| | - Ying Wang
- Children’s Learning Institute, The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, TX 77030, USA; (M.E.G.); (K.A.V.); (Y.W.); (S.H.L.)
| | - Susan H. Landry
- Children’s Learning Institute, The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, TX 77030, USA; (M.E.G.); (K.A.V.); (Y.W.); (S.H.L.)
| | - Johanna R. Bick
- Psychology Department, University of Houston, Houston, TX 77204, USA;
| | - Dana M. DeMaster
- Children’s Learning Institute, The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, TX 77030, USA; (M.E.G.); (K.A.V.); (Y.W.); (S.H.L.)
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Christians JK, Ahmadzadeh-Seddeighi S, Bilal A, Bogdanovic A, Ho R, Leung EV, MacGregor MA, Nadasdy NM, Principe GM. Sex differences in the effects of prematurity and/or low birthweight on neurodevelopmental outcomes: systematic review and meta-analyses. Biol Sex Differ 2023; 14:47. [PMID: 37434174 DOI: 10.1186/s13293-023-00532-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/03/2023] [Accepted: 07/04/2023] [Indexed: 07/13/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Premature birth and/or low birthweight have long-lasting effects on cognition. The purpose of the present systematic review is to examine whether the effects of prematurity and/or low birth weight on neurodevelopmental outcomes differ between males and females. METHODS Web of Science, Scopus, and Ovid MEDLINE were searched for studies of humans born premature and/or of low birthweight, where neurodevelopmental phenotypes were measured at 1 year of age or older. Studies must have reported outcomes in such a way that it was possible to assess whether effects were greater in one sex than the other. Risk of bias was assessed using both the Newcastle-Ottawa scale and the National Institutes of Health Quality assessment tool for observational cohort and cross-sectional studies. RESULTS Seventy-five studies were included for descriptive synthesis, although only 24 presented data in a way that could be extracted for meta-analyses. Meta-analyses found that severe and moderate prematurity/low birthweight impaired cognitive function, and severe prematurity/low birthweight also increased internalizing problem scores. Moderate, but not severe, prematurity/low birthweight significantly increased externalizing problem scores. In no case did effects of prematurity/low birthweight differ between males and females. Heterogeneity among studies was generally high and significant, although age at assessment was not a significant moderator of effect. Descriptive synthesis did not identify an obvious excess or deficiency of male-biased or female-biased effects for any trait category. Individual study quality was generally good, and we found no evidence of publication bias. CONCLUSIONS We found no evidence that the sexes differ in their susceptibility to the effects of severe or moderate prematurity/low birthweight on cognitive function, internalizing traits or externalizing traits. Result heterogeneity tended to be high, but this reflects that one sex is not consistently more affected than the other. Frequently stated generalizations that one sex is more susceptible to prenatal adversity should be re-evaluated.
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Affiliation(s)
- Julian K Christians
- Department of Biological Sciences, Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, BC, Canada.
- Centre for Cell Biology, Development and Disease, Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, BC, Canada.
- British Columbia Children's Hospital Research Institute, Vancouver, BC, Canada.
- Women's Health Research Institute, BC Women's Hospital and Health Centre, Vancouver, BC, Canada.
| | | | - Alishba Bilal
- Department of Biological Sciences, Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, BC, Canada
| | - Anastasia Bogdanovic
- Department of Molecular Biology and Biochemistry, Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, BC, Canada
| | - Rebecca Ho
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
- Department of Molecular Oncology, British Columbia Cancer Research Institute, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Estee V Leung
- Biomedical Physiology and Kinesiology, Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, BC, Canada
| | - Megan A MacGregor
- Faculty of Health Sciences, Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, BC, Canada
| | - Nolan M Nadasdy
- Department of Biological Sciences, Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, BC, Canada
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Gilchrist CP, Kelly CE, Cumberland A, Dhollander T, Treyvaud K, Lee K, Cheong JLY, Doyle LW, Inder TE, Thompson DK, Tolcos M, Anderson PJ. Fiber-Specific Measures of White Matter Microstructure and Macrostructure Are Associated With Internalizing and Externalizing Symptoms in Children Born Very Preterm and Full-term. Biol Psychiatry 2023; 93:575-585. [PMID: 36481064 DOI: 10.1016/j.biopsych.2022.09.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/02/2022] [Revised: 09/06/2022] [Accepted: 09/10/2022] [Indexed: 11/02/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Tensor-based investigations suggest that delayed or disrupted white matter development may relate to adverse behavioral outcomes in individuals born very preterm (VP); however, metrics derived from such models lack specificity. Here, we applied a fixel-based analysis framework to examine white matter microstructural and macrostructural correlates of concurrent internalizing and externalizing problems in VP and full-term (FT) children at 7 and 13 years. METHODS Diffusion imaging data were collected in a longitudinal cohort of VP and FT individuals (130 VP and 29 FT at 7 years, 125 VP and 44 FT at 13 years). Fixel-based measures of fiber density, fiber-bundle cross-section, and fiber density and cross-section were extracted from 21 white matter tracts previously implicated in psychopathology. Internalizing and externalizing symptoms were assessed using the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire parent report at 7 and 13 years. RESULTS At age 7 years, widespread reductions in fiber-bundle cross-section and fiber density and cross-section and tract-specific reductions in fiber density were related to more internalizing and externalizing symptoms irrespective of birth group. At age 13 years, fixel-based measures were not related to internalizing symptoms, while tract-specific reductions in fiber density, fiber-bundle cross-section, and fiber density and cross-section measures were related to more externalizing symptoms in the FT group only. CONCLUSIONS Age-specific neurobiological markers of internalizing and externalizing problems identified in this study extend previous tensor-based findings to inform pathophysiological models of behavior problems and provide the foundation for investigations into novel preventative and therapeutic interventions to mitigate risk in VP and other high-risk infant populations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Courtney P Gilchrist
- School of Health and Biomedical Sciences, RMIT University, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia; Victorian Infant Brain Studies, Murdoch Children's Research Institute, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia; Developmental Imaging, Murdoch Children's Research Institute, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.
| | - Claire E Kelly
- Victorian Infant Brain Studies, Murdoch Children's Research Institute, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia; Developmental Imaging, Murdoch Children's Research Institute, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia; Turner Institute for Brain and Mental Health, School of Psychological Science, Monash University, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | - Angela Cumberland
- School of Health and Biomedical Sciences, RMIT University, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | - Thijs Dhollander
- Developmental Imaging, Murdoch Children's Research Institute, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | - Karli Treyvaud
- Victorian Infant Brain Studies, Murdoch Children's Research Institute, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia; Department of Psychology and Counselling, La Trobe University, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia; Newborn Research, Royal Women's Hospital, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | - Katherine Lee
- Victorian Infant Brain Studies, Murdoch Children's Research Institute, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia; Clinical Epidemiology and Biostatistics Unit, Murdoch Children's Research Institute, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia; Department of Paediatrics, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | - Jeanie L Y Cheong
- Victorian Infant Brain Studies, Murdoch Children's Research Institute, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia; Newborn Research, Royal Women's Hospital, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia; Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | - Lex W Doyle
- Victorian Infant Brain Studies, Murdoch Children's Research Institute, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia; Newborn Research, Royal Women's Hospital, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia; Department of Paediatrics, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia; Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | - Terrie E Inder
- Victorian Infant Brain Studies, Murdoch Children's Research Institute, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia; Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Deanne K Thompson
- Victorian Infant Brain Studies, Murdoch Children's Research Institute, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia; Developmental Imaging, Murdoch Children's Research Institute, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia; Department of Paediatrics, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | - Mary Tolcos
- School of Health and Biomedical Sciences, RMIT University, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | - Peter J Anderson
- Victorian Infant Brain Studies, Murdoch Children's Research Institute, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia; Turner Institute for Brain and Mental Health, School of Psychological Science, Monash University, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.
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Nielsen AN, Kaplan S, Meyer D, Alexopoulos D, Kenley JK, Smyser TA, Wakschlag LS, Norton ES, Raghuraman N, Warner BB, Shimony JS, Luby JL, Neil JJ, Petersen SE, Barch DM, Rogers CE, Sylvester CM, Smyser CD. Maturation of large-scale brain systems over the first month of life. Cereb Cortex 2023; 33:2788-2803. [PMID: 35750056 PMCID: PMC10016041 DOI: 10.1093/cercor/bhac242] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/20/2022] [Revised: 04/29/2022] [Accepted: 05/23/2022] [Indexed: 01/14/2023] Open
Abstract
The period immediately after birth is a critical developmental window, capturing rapid maturation of brain structure and a child's earliest experiences. Large-scale brain systems are present at delivery, but how these brain systems mature during this narrow window (i.e. first weeks of life) marked by heightened neuroplasticity remains uncharted. Using multivariate pattern classification techniques and functional connectivity magnetic resonance imaging, we detected robust differences in brain systems related to age in newborns (n = 262; R2 = 0.51). Development over the first month of life occurred brain-wide, but differed and was more pronounced in brain systems previously characterized as developing early (i.e. sensorimotor networks) than in those characterized as developing late (i.e. association networks). The cingulo-opercular network was the only exception to this organizing principle, illuminating its early role in brain development. This study represents a step towards a normative brain "growth curve" that could be used to identify atypical brain maturation in infancy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ashley N Nielsen
- Department of Neurology, Washington University in St. Louis, 660 S. Euclid Ave, St. Louis, MO, 63110, USA
| | - Sydney Kaplan
- Department of Neurology, Washington University in St. Louis, 660 S. Euclid Ave, St. Louis, MO, 63110, USA
| | - Dominique Meyer
- Department of Neurology, Washington University in St. Louis, 660 S. Euclid Ave, St. Louis, MO, 63110, USA
| | - Dimitrios Alexopoulos
- Department of Neurology, Washington University in St. Louis, 660 S. Euclid Ave, St. Louis, MO, 63110, USA
| | - Jeanette K Kenley
- Department of Neurology, Washington University in St. Louis, 660 S. Euclid Ave, St. Louis, MO, 63110, USA
| | - Tara A Smyser
- Department of Psychiatry, Washington University in St. Louis, 660 S. Euclid Ave, St. Louis, MO, 63110, USA
| | - Lauren S Wakschlag
- Institute for Innovations and Developmental Sciences, Northwestern University, 420 E Superior, Chicago, IL, 60611, USA
- Department of Medical Social Sciences, Northwestern University, 420 E Superior, Chicago, IL, 60611, USA
- Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, 420 E Superior, Chicago, IL, 60611, USA
| | - Elizabeth S Norton
- Institute for Innovations and Developmental Sciences, Northwestern University, 420 E Superior, Chicago, IL, 60611, USA
- Department of Medical Social Sciences, Northwestern University, 420 E Superior, Chicago, IL, 60611, USA
- Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders, Northwestern University, 420 E Superior, Chicago, IL, 60611, USA
| | - Nandini Raghuraman
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Washington University in St. Louis, 660 S. Euclid Ave, St. Louis, MO, 63110, USA
| | - Barbara B Warner
- Department of Pediatrics, Washington University in St. Louis, 660 S. Euclid Ave, St. Louis, MO, 63110, USA
| | - Joshua S Shimony
- Department of Radiology, Washington University in St. Louis, 660 S. Euclid Ave, St. Louis, MO, 63110, USA
| | - Joan L Luby
- Department of Psychiatry, Washington University in St. Louis, 660 S. Euclid Ave, St. Louis, MO, 63110, USA
| | - Jeffery J Neil
- Department of Neurology, Washington University in St. Louis, 660 S. Euclid Ave, St. Louis, MO, 63110, USA
- Department of Radiology, Washington University in St. Louis, 660 S. Euclid Ave, St. Louis, MO, 63110, USA
| | - Steven E Petersen
- Department of Neurology, Washington University in St. Louis, 660 S. Euclid Ave, St. Louis, MO, 63110, USA
| | - Deanna M Barch
- Department of Psychiatry, Washington University in St. Louis, 660 S. Euclid Ave, St. Louis, MO, 63110, USA
- Department of Radiology, Washington University in St. Louis, 660 S. Euclid Ave, St. Louis, MO, 63110, USA
- Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, Washington University in St. Louis, 660 S. Euclid Ave, St. Louis, MO, 63110, USA
| | - Cynthia E Rogers
- Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders, Northwestern University, 420 E Superior, Chicago, IL, 60611, USA
- Department of Radiology, Washington University in St. Louis, 660 S. Euclid Ave, St. Louis, MO, 63110, USA
| | - Chad M Sylvester
- Department of Psychiatry, Washington University in St. Louis, 660 S. Euclid Ave, St. Louis, MO, 63110, USA
| | - Christopher D Smyser
- Department of Neurology, Washington University in St. Louis, 660 S. Euclid Ave, St. Louis, MO, 63110, USA
- Department of Pediatrics, Washington University in St. Louis, 660 S. Euclid Ave, St. Louis, MO, 63110, USA
- Department of Radiology, Washington University in St. Louis, 660 S. Euclid Ave, St. Louis, MO, 63110, USA
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Solis-Urra P, Esteban-Cornejo I, Rodriguez-Ayllon M, Verdejo-Román J, Labayen I, Catena A, Ortega FB. Early life factors and white matter microstructure in children with overweight and obesity: The ActiveBrains project. Clin Nutr 2021; 41:40-48. [PMID: 34864454 DOI: 10.1016/j.clnu.2021.10.022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/21/2021] [Revised: 10/05/2021] [Accepted: 10/23/2021] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND & AIMS Exposure to a suboptimal environment during the fetal and early infancy period's results in long-term consequences for brain morphology and function. We investigated the associations of early life factors such as anthropometric neonatal data (i.e., birth length, birth weight and birth head circumference) and breastfeeding practices (i.e., exclusive and any breastfeeding) with white matter (WM) microstructure, and ii) we tested whether WM tracts related to early life factors are associated with academic performance in children with overweight/obesity. METHODS 96 overweight/obese children (10.03 ± 1.16 years; 38.7% girls) were included from the ActiveBrains Project. WM microstructure indicators used were fractional anisotropy (FA) and mean diffusivity (MD), derived from Diffusion Tensor Imaging. Academic performance was evaluated with the Battery III Woodcock-Muñoz Tests of Achievement. Regression models were used to examine the associations of the early life factors with tract-specific FA and MD, as well as its association with academic performance. RESULTS Head circumference at birth was positively associated with FA of the inferior fronto-occipital fasciculus tract (0.441; p = 0.005), as well as negatively associated with MD of the cingulate gyrus part of cingulum (-0.470; p = 0.006), corticospinal (-0.457; p = 0.005) and superior thalamic radiation tract (-0.476; p = 0.001). Association of birth weight, birth length and exclusive breastfeeding with WM microstructure did not remain significant after false discovery rate correction. None tract related to birth head circumference was associated with academic performance (all p > 0.05). CONCLUSIONS Our results highlighted the importance of the perinatal growth in WM microstructure later in life, although its possible academic implications remain inconclusive.
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Affiliation(s)
- Patricio Solis-Urra
- PROFITH "PROmoting FITness and Health Through Physical Activity" Research Group, Sport and Health University Research Institute (iMUDS), Department of Physical Education and Sports, Faculty of Sport Sciences, University of Granada, Spain; Faculty of Education and Social Sciences, Universidad Andres Bello, Viña del Mar, Chile.
| | - Irene Esteban-Cornejo
- PROFITH "PROmoting FITness and Health Through Physical Activity" Research Group, Sport and Health University Research Institute (iMUDS), Department of Physical Education and Sports, Faculty of Sport Sciences, University of Granada, Spain
| | - María Rodriguez-Ayllon
- PROFITH "PROmoting FITness and Health Through Physical Activity" Research Group, Sport and Health University Research Institute (iMUDS), Department of Physical Education and Sports, Faculty of Sport Sciences, University of Granada, Spain
| | - Juan Verdejo-Román
- Mind, Brain and Behavior Research Center (CIMCYC), University of Granada, Granada, Spain; Laboratory of Cognitive and Computational Neuroscience (UCM-UPM), Center for Biomedical Technology (CTB), Madrid, Spain
| | - Idoia Labayen
- Institute for Innovation & Sustainable Development in Food Chain (IS-FOOD), Public University of Navarra, Pamplona, Spain
| | - Andrés Catena
- Department of Experimental Psychology, Mind, Brain and Behaviour Research Centre (CIMCYC), University of Granada, Granada, Spain
| | - Francisco B Ortega
- PROFITH "PROmoting FITness and Health Through Physical Activity" Research Group, Sport and Health University Research Institute (iMUDS), Department of Physical Education and Sports, Faculty of Sport Sciences, University of Granada, Spain; Faculty of Sport and Health Sciences, University of Jyväskylä, Jyväskylä, Finland.
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6
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Bugada MC, Kline JE, Parikh NA. Microstructural Measures of the Inferior Longitudinal Fasciculus Predict Later Cognitive and Language Development in Infants Born With Extremely Low Birth Weight. J Child Neurol 2021; 36:981-989. [PMID: 34187223 PMCID: PMC8458222 DOI: 10.1177/08830738211019862] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Extremely preterm children are at high risk for adverse neurodevelopmental outcomes. Identifying predictors of discrete developmental outcomes early in life would allow for targeted neuroprotective therapies when neuroplasticity is at its peak. Our goal was to examine whether diffusion magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) metrics of the inferior longitudinal and uncinate fasciculi early in life could predict later cognitive and language outcomes. STUDY DESIGN In this pilot study, 43 extremely low-birth-weight preterm infants were scanned using diffusion MRI at term-equivalent age. White matter tracts were assessed via diffusion tensor imaging metrics of fractional anisotropy and mean diffusivity. The Language and Cognitive subscale scores of the Bayley Scales of Infant & Toddler Development-III at 18-22 months corrected age were our outcomes of interest. Multiple linear regression models were created to assess diffusion metrics of the inferior longitudinal and uncinate fasciculi as predictors of Bayley scores. We controlled for brain injury score on structural MRI, maternal education, birth weight, and age at MRI scan. RESULTS Of the 43 infants, 36 infants had high-quality diffusion tensor imaging and returned for developmental testing. The fractional anisotropy of the inferior longitudinal fasciculus was associated with Bayley-III scores in univariate analyses and was an independent predictor of Bayley-III cognitive and language development over and above known predictors in multivariable analyses. CONCLUSIONS Incorporating new biomarkers such as the fractional anisotropy of the inferior longitudinal fasciculus with structural MRI findings could enhance accuracy of neurodevelopment predictive models. Additional research is needed to validate our findings in a larger cohort.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matthew C. Bugada
- Perinatal Institute, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, Ohio
| | - Julia E. Kline
- Perinatal Institute, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, Ohio
| | - Nehal A. Parikh
- Perinatal Institute, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, Ohio
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, Ohio
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, Texas
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7
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Sato J, Vandewouw MM, Bando N, Branson HM, O'Connor DL, Unger SL, Taylor MJ. White matter alterations and cognitive outcomes in children born very low birth weight. Neuroimage Clin 2021; 32:102843. [PMID: 34601309 PMCID: PMC8496319 DOI: 10.1016/j.nicl.2021.102843] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/29/2021] [Revised: 09/23/2021] [Accepted: 09/24/2021] [Indexed: 10/25/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Very low birth weight (VLBW) infants are at risk for disrupted white matter maturation, yet little is known about the contributing factors, particularly at preschool-age when cognitive difficulties begin to emerge. We examined white matter microstructure in five-year-old VLBW and full-term (FT) children, and its association with cognitive outcomes and birth weight. METHODS Multi-shell diffusion and MR images were obtained for 41 VLBW (mean birth weight: 1028.6 ± 256.8 g) and 26 FT (3295.4 ± 493.9 g) children. Fractional anisotropy (FA), radial diffusivity (RD), neurite orientation dispersion index (ODI) and density index (NDI) were estimated using diffusion tensor and neurite orientation dispersion and density imaging models. Between-group analyses used a general linear model with group and sex as explanatory variables. Within-group associations between white matter microstructure, cognitive outcomes and birth weight were also investigated. RESULTS VLBW compared to FT children showed lower FA and NDI across widespread white matter regions. Smaller clusters of atypical ODI were also found in VLBW children. Within-group analyses in FT children revealed that lower RD and higher NDI were associated with vocabulary acquisition and working memory. In VLBW children, higher FA and NDI, and lower RD and ODI, were associated with improved processing speed. In both groups, FA was positively associated with birth weight. CONCLUSIONS Our findings demonstrate white matter alterations in young VLBW children, including widespread reductions in axon density that may reflect sustained myelination disruptions. The associations with cognitive outcomes may also highlight which of the VLBW children are at higher risk for later cognitive difficulties.
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Affiliation(s)
- Julie Sato
- Diagnostic Imaging, Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Ontario, Canada; Psychology, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada; Neurosciences & Mental Health, Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
| | - Marlee M Vandewouw
- Diagnostic Imaging, Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Ontario, Canada; Neurosciences & Mental Health, Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Ontario, Canada; Autism Research Centre, Bloorview Research Institute, Holland Bloorview Kids Rehabilitation Hospital, Toronto, ON, Canada; Institute of Biomedical Engineering, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Nicole Bando
- Translational Medicine, SickKids Research Institute, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Helen M Branson
- Diagnostic Imaging, Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Ontario, Canada; Medical Imaging, University of Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Deborah L O'Connor
- Translational Medicine, SickKids Research Institute, Toronto, Ontario, Canada; Nutritional Sciences, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada; Paediatrics, Mount Sinai Health, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Sharon L Unger
- Nutritional Sciences, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada; Paediatrics, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada; Paediatrics, Mount Sinai Health, Toronto, Ontario, Canada; Division of Neonatology, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Margot J Taylor
- Diagnostic Imaging, Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Ontario, Canada; Psychology, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada; Neurosciences & Mental Health, Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Ontario, Canada; Medical Imaging, University of Toronto, Ontario, Canada; Paediatrics, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
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8
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Kennedy E, Poppe T, Tottman A, Harding J. Neurodevelopmental impairment is associated with altered white matter development in a cohort of school-aged children born very preterm. NEUROIMAGE-CLINICAL 2021; 31:102730. [PMID: 34174689 PMCID: PMC8246637 DOI: 10.1016/j.nicl.2021.102730] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/08/2021] [Revised: 06/10/2021] [Accepted: 06/12/2021] [Indexed: 01/02/2023]
Abstract
Over 30% of children born VPT have neurodevelopmental impairment. VPT children with neurodevelopmental impairment have smaller total brain volume. VPT children with neurodevelopmental impairment have lower FA and higher RD. Neurodevelopmental impairment in a VPT cohort may reflect altered microstructure.
Individuals born very preterm (<32 weeks gestation) have altered brain growth and white matter maturation relative to their full-term peers, and approximately 30% will experience neurodevelopmental impairment. We investigated the relationship between neurodevelopmental impairment and MRI measures of white matter microstructure and brain volume. Children born before 30 weeks’ gestation or who had very low birthweight (< 1500 g) underwent neurodevelopmental assessment and MRI at age 7 years as part of the PIANO study, a New Zealand-based cohort study. Fractional anisotropy (FA) and diffusivity measures were derived from diffusion tensor imaging to index white matter microstructure. Volumes were derived from T1-weighted imaging. Neurodevelopmental impairment was defined as a score < 85 on the Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children, <5th centile on the Movement Assessment Battery for Children or a diagnosis of cerebral palsy by a paediatrician. Relationships between MRI and neurodevelopmental impairment were assessed with general linear models adjusted for sex, gestational age at birth, birthweight z-score, age at assessment, New Zealand Deprivation index score and multiplicity. Children with neurodevelopmental impairment (n = 38) had smaller total brain, cortical grey matter and cerebral white matter volumes compared to children without neurodevelopmental impairment (n = 62) (p < 0.05, false discovery rate corrected), but the regional volume differences did not remain significant after adjustment for total brain volume. Lower FA and higher radial diffusivity were observed in the superior longitudinal fasciculi, uncinate fasciculi and right hemisphere corticospinal tract in children with neurodevelopmental impairment. This may reflect differences in cellular properties such as myelination or axonal packing. Neurodevelopmental impairment may reflect smaller overall brain volume and altered microstructure in white matter tracts that are important for language, cognitive and motor functioning.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eleanor Kennedy
- Liggins Institute, University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand.
| | - Tanya Poppe
- Liggins Institute, University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand; Centre for the Developing Brain, Department of Biomedical Engineering and Imaging Sciences, King's College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Anna Tottman
- Liggins Institute, University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand
| | - Jane Harding
- Liggins Institute, University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand.
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Taddei M, Tinelli F, Faccio F, Riva D, Bulgheroni S. Sex influences on the neurocognitive outcome of preterm children. J Neurosci Res 2021; 101:796-811. [PMID: 34133788 DOI: 10.1002/jnr.24862] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/15/2021] [Revised: 05/06/2021] [Accepted: 05/07/2021] [Indexed: 11/07/2022]
Abstract
This article presents a revision of the literature regarding the influence of sex differences on the recovery and long-term behavioral and cognitive outcomes of preterm children. After initial discussion of some methodological concerns, the literature regarding the concept of "male disadvantage," which is often used when talking about early neurological and psychomotor outcomes in preterm children, is presented. Subsequently, the literature data on sex-related differences in preterm children are discussed, focusing on their influence on the developmental pathways of cognition, language, executive function, behavior and affect, and response to rehabilitation therapies. Finally, evidence about brain structural and connectivity correlates of sex differences in the brain of preterm survivors is taken into account. Although visuo-spatial and visuo-perceptual functioning is widely studied in the preterm child and is strongly sex specific, little to no data are available regarding male-female differences in preterm children and the interaction effect between sex and preterm birth. For this reason, original data analyses of male-female differences in visuo-spatial performance from a small sample of preterm children are also presented.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matilde Taddei
- Developmental Neurology Unit, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Neurologico Carlo Besta, Milan, Italy
| | - Francesca Tinelli
- Department of Developmental Neuroscience, IRCCS Fondazione Stella Maris, Calambrone, Italy
| | - Flavia Faccio
- Developmental Neurology Unit, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Neurologico Carlo Besta, Milan, Italy
| | - Daria Riva
- Developmental Neurology Unit, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Neurologico Carlo Besta, Milan, Italy
| | - Sara Bulgheroni
- Developmental Neurology Unit, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Neurologico Carlo Besta, Milan, Italy
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10
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Kallankari H, Saunavaara V, Parkkola R, Haataja L, Hallman M, Kaukola T. Diffusion tensor imaging in frontostriatal tracts is associated with executive functioning in very preterm children at 9 years of age. Pediatr Radiol 2021; 51:112-118. [PMID: 32870358 PMCID: PMC7796865 DOI: 10.1007/s00247-020-04802-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/11/2019] [Revised: 05/27/2020] [Accepted: 08/05/2020] [Indexed: 01/26/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Very preterm birth can disturb brain maturation and subject these high-risk children to neurocognitive difficulties later. OBJECTIVE The aim of the study was to evaluate the impact of prematurity on microstructure of frontostriatal tracts in children with no severe neurologic impairment, and to study whether the diffusion tensor imaging metrics of frontostriatal tracts correlate to executive functioning. MATERIALS AND METHODS The prospective cohort study comprised 54 very preterm children (mean gestational age 28.8 weeks) and 20 age- and gender-matched term children. None of the children had severe neurologic impairment. The children underwent diffusion tensor imaging and neuropsychological assessments at a mean age of 9 years. We measured quantitative diffusion tensor imaging metrics of frontostriatal tracts using probabilistic tractography. We also administered five subtests from the Developmental Neuropsychological Assessment, Second Edition, to evaluate executive functioning. RESULTS Very preterm children had significantly higher fractional anisotropy and axial diffusivity values (P<0.05, corrected for multiple comparison) in dorsolateral prefrontal caudate and ventrolateral prefrontal caudate tracts as compared to term-born children. We found negative correlations between the diffusion tensor imaging metrics of frontostriatal tracts and inhibition functions (P<0.05, corrected for multiple comparison) in very preterm children. CONCLUSION Prematurity has a long-term effect on frontostriatal white matter microstructure that might contribute to difficulties in executive functioning.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hanna Kallankari
- PEDEGO Research Unit and Medical Research Center Oulu, University of Oulu, Oulu, Finland. .,Department of Child Neurology, Oulu University Hospital, P.O. Box 23, FIN-90029 OYS, Oulu, Finland.
| | - Virva Saunavaara
- PET Center, Turku University Hospital, Turku, Finland ,Department of Medical Physics, Turku University Hospital, Turku, Finland
| | - Riitta Parkkola
- Department of Radiology, University of Turku and Turku University Hospital, Turku, Finland
| | - Leena Haataja
- Department of Child Neurology, Children and Adolescents, University of Helsinki and Helsinki University Hospital, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Mikko Hallman
- PEDEGO Research Unit and Medical Research Center Oulu, University of Oulu, Oulu, Finland
| | - Tuula Kaukola
- PEDEGO Research Unit and Medical Research Center Oulu, University of Oulu, Oulu, Finland ,Department of Neonatology, Oulu University Hospital, Oulu, Finland
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11
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Thompson DK, Loh WY, Connelly A, Cheong JLY, Spittle AJ, Chen J, Kelly CE, Inder TE, Doyle LW, Anderson PJ. Basal ganglia and thalamic tract connectivity in very preterm and full-term children; associations with 7-year neurodevelopment. Pediatr Res 2020; 87:48-56. [PMID: 31486778 DOI: 10.1038/s41390-019-0546-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/01/2019] [Revised: 07/14/2019] [Accepted: 08/16/2019] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Altered basal ganglia and thalamic connectivity may be critical for cognitive, motor and behavioural impairments common to very preterm (<32 weeks' gestational age) children. This study aims to (1) compare corticostriatal and thalamocortical tract connectivity between very preterm and term-born children at 7 years of age; (2) explore tract connectivity associations with 7-year neurodevelopmental outcomes, and whether these relationships differed between groups. METHODS Eighty-three very preterm and 19 term-born (≥37 weeks' gestational age) children underwent structural and diffusion magnetic resonance imaging and had a neuropsychological assessment at 7 years. Corticostriatal and thalamocortical tracts were reconstructed and white matter connectivity was estimated with apparent fibre density. RESULTS Compared with term-born controls, very preterm children had decreased connectivity in tracts linking the caudate to right motor areas (-10%, p = 0.03) and the thalamus with left motor areas (-5.7%, p = 0.03). Reduced connectivity in corticostriatal and thalamocortical tracts was associated with adverse motor functioning in both groups (p = 0.06). Decreased connectivity of the left caudate and putamen with the lateral prefrontal cortex was associated with lower reading performance for controls (p = 0.06). CONCLUSION Corticostriatal and thalamocortical tracts are vulnerable to very preterm birth. Poorer connectivity in these tracts may underlie the motor impairments observed in very preterm children.
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Affiliation(s)
- Deanne K Thompson
- Murdoch Children's Research Institute, Melbourne, VIC, Australia. .,Department of Paediatrics, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC, Australia. .,The Florey Department of Neuroscience and Mental Health, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC, Australia.
| | - Wai Yen Loh
- Murdoch Children's Research Institute, Melbourne, VIC, Australia.,The Florey Department of Neuroscience and Mental Health, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
| | - Alan Connelly
- The Florey Department of Neuroscience and Mental Health, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
| | - Jeanie L Y Cheong
- Murdoch Children's Research Institute, Melbourne, VIC, Australia.,Neonatal Services, Royal Women's Hospital, Melbourne, VIC, Australia.,Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
| | - Alicia J Spittle
- Murdoch Children's Research Institute, Melbourne, VIC, Australia.,Neonatal Services, Royal Women's Hospital, Melbourne, VIC, Australia.,Department of Physiotherapy, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
| | - Jian Chen
- Murdoch Children's Research Institute, Melbourne, VIC, Australia.,Department of Medicine, Stroke and Ageing Research Group, Southern Clinical School, Monash University, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
| | - Claire E Kelly
- Murdoch Children's Research Institute, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
| | - Terrie E Inder
- Murdoch Children's Research Institute, Melbourne, VIC, Australia.,Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Lex W Doyle
- Murdoch Children's Research Institute, Melbourne, VIC, Australia.,Department of Paediatrics, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC, Australia.,Neonatal Services, Royal Women's Hospital, Melbourne, VIC, Australia.,Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
| | - Peter J Anderson
- Murdoch Children's Research Institute, Melbourne, VIC, Australia.,Turner Institute for Brain and Mental Health, School of Psychological Sciences, Monash University, Clayton, VIC, Australia
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12
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Tokariev M, Vuontela V, Lönnberg P, Lano A, Perkola J, Wolford E, Andersson S, Metsäranta M, Carlson S. Altered working memory-related brain responses and white matter microstructure in extremely preterm-born children at school age. Brain Cogn 2019; 136:103615. [PMID: 31563082 DOI: 10.1016/j.bandc.2019.103615] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/08/2019] [Revised: 09/10/2019] [Accepted: 09/13/2019] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
Preterm birth poses a risk for neurocognitive and behavioral development. Preterm children, who have not been diagnosed with neurological or cognitive deficits, enter normal schools and are expected to succeed as their term-born peers. Here we tested the hypotheses that despite an uneventful development after preterm birth, these children might exhibit subtle abnormalities in brain function and white-matter microstructure at school-age. We recruited 7.5-year-old children born extremely prematurely (<28 weeks' gestation), and age- and gender-matched term-born controls (≥37 weeks' gestation). We applied fMRI during working-memory (WM) tasks, and investigated white-matter microstructure with diffusion tensor imaging. Compared with controls, preterm-born children performed WM tasks less accurately, had reduced activation in several right prefrontal areas, and weaker deactivation of right temporal lobe areas. The weaker prefrontal activation correlated with poorer WM performance. Preterm-born children had higher fractional anisotropy (FA) and lower diffusivity than controls in several white-matter areas, and in the posterior cerebellum, the higher FA associated with poorer visuospatial test scores. In controls, higher FA and lower diffusivity correlated with faster WM performance. Together these findings demonstrate weaker WM-related brain activations and altered white matter microstructure in children born extremely preterm, who had normal global cognitive ability.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maksym Tokariev
- Department of Neuroscience and Biomedical Engineering, Aalto University School of Science, Espoo, Finland; Department of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Virve Vuontela
- Department of Neuroscience and Biomedical Engineering, Aalto University School of Science, Espoo, Finland; Department of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Piia Lönnberg
- Department of Child Neurology, Children's Hospital, Pediatric Research Center, University of Helsinki and Helsinki University Hospital, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Aulikki Lano
- Department of Child Neurology, Children's Hospital, Pediatric Research Center, University of Helsinki and Helsinki University Hospital, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Jaana Perkola
- Department of Clinical Neurophysiology, University of Helsinki and Helsinki University Hospital, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Elina Wolford
- Department of Psychology and Logopedics, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Sture Andersson
- Department of Pediatrics, Children's Hospital, Pediatric Research Center, University of Helsinki and Helsinki University Hospital, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Marjo Metsäranta
- Department of Pediatrics, Children's Hospital, Pediatric Research Center, University of Helsinki and Helsinki University Hospital, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Synnöve Carlson
- Department of Neuroscience and Biomedical Engineering, Aalto University School of Science, Espoo, Finland; Department of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland; Advanced Magnetic Imaging Centre, Aalto University School of Science, Espoo, Finland.
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13
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Young JM, Vandewouw MM, Mossad SI, Morgan BR, Lee W, Smith ML, Sled JG, Taylor MJ. White matter microstructural differences identified using multi-shell diffusion imaging in six-year-old children born very preterm. NEUROIMAGE-CLINICAL 2019; 23:101855. [PMID: 31103872 PMCID: PMC6737393 DOI: 10.1016/j.nicl.2019.101855] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/03/2018] [Revised: 04/08/2019] [Accepted: 05/02/2019] [Indexed: 10/29/2022]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION The underlying microstructural properties of white matter differences in children born very preterm (<32 weeks gestational age) can be investigated in depth using multi-shell diffusion imaging. The present study compared white matter across the whole brain using diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) and neurite orientation dispersion and density imaging (NODDI) metrics in children born very preterm and full-term children at six years of age. We also investigated associations between white matter microstructure with early brain injury and developmental outcomes. METHOD Multi-shell diffusion imaging, T1-weighted anatomical MR images and developmental assessments were acquired in 23 children born very preterm (16 males; mean scan age: 6.57 ± 0.34 years) and 24 full-term controls (10 males, mean scan age: 6.62 ± 0.37 years). DTI metrics were obtained and neurite orientation dispersion index (ODI) and density index (NDI) were estimated using the NODDI diffusion model. FSL's tract-based spatial statistics were performed on traditional DTI metrics and NODDI metrics. Voxel-wise comparisons were performed to test between-group differences and within-group associations with developmental outcomes (intelligence and visual motor abilities) as well as early white matter injury and germinal matrix/intraventricular haemorrhage (GMH/IVH). RESULTS In comparison to term-born children, the children born very preterm exhibited lower fractional anisotropy (FA) across many white matter regions as well as higher mean diffusivity (MD), radial diffusivity (RD), and ODI. Within-group analyses of the children born very preterm revealed associations between higher FA and NDI with higher IQ and VMI. Lower ODI was found within the corona radiata in those with a history of white matter injury. Within the full-term group, associations were found between higher NDI and ODI with lower IQ. CONCLUSION Children born very preterm exhibit lower FA and higher ODI than full-term children. NODDI metrics provide more biologically specific information beyond DTI metrics as well as additional information of the impact of prematurity and white matter microstructure on cognitive outcomes at six years of age.
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Affiliation(s)
- Julia M Young
- Diagnostic Imaging, Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, ON, Canada; Neurosciences and Mental Health, SickKids Research Institute, Toronto, ON, Canada; Department of Psychology, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada.
| | - Marlee M Vandewouw
- Diagnostic Imaging, Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, ON, Canada; Neurosciences and Mental Health, SickKids Research Institute, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Sarah I Mossad
- Diagnostic Imaging, Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, ON, Canada; Neurosciences and Mental Health, SickKids Research Institute, Toronto, ON, Canada; Department of Psychology, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Benjamin R Morgan
- Diagnostic Imaging, Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, ON, Canada; Neurosciences and Mental Health, SickKids Research Institute, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Wayne Lee
- Diagnostic Imaging, Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Mary Lou Smith
- Department of Psychology, Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, ON, Canada; Neurosciences and Mental Health, SickKids Research Institute, Toronto, ON, Canada; Department of Psychology, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - John G Sled
- Translational Medicine, SickKids Research Institute, Toronto, ON, Canada; Department of Biomedical Physics, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Margot J Taylor
- Diagnostic Imaging, Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, ON, Canada; Neurosciences and Mental Health, SickKids Research Institute, Toronto, ON, Canada; Department of Medical Imaging, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada; Department of Psychology, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
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14
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Loe IM, Adams JN, Feldman HM. Executive Function in Relation to White Matter in Preterm and Full Term Children. Front Pediatr 2019; 6:418. [PMID: 30697535 PMCID: PMC6341022 DOI: 10.3389/fped.2018.00418] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/21/2018] [Accepted: 12/18/2018] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Background: Executive function (EF) refers to cognitive abilities used to guide goal-directed behavior. Diffusion Tensor Imaging (DTI) provides quantitative characterization of white matter tracts in the brain. Children with preterm birth often have EF impairments and white matter injury. Aim: To examine the degree of association between EF scores and white matter fractional anisotropy (FA) as measured by DTI in children born preterm and term Study design: Cross-sectional study Subjects: Participants, 9-16 years of age, born preterm (n = 25; mean gestational age 28.6 weeks; mean birth weight 1,191 grams), and full term (n = 20) Outcome measures: White matter FA analyzed with Tract-Based Spatial Statistics, a technique that generates a skeleton representing the core of white matter tracts throughout the brain. Behavioral scores from EF tasks examining working memory, spatial memory capacity, and multiple skills from the Stockings of Cambridge. Results: The groups performed comparably on all tasks. In both groups, unfavorable working memory strategy scores were associated with lower FA. Other measures of EF were not associated with whole skeleton FA in either group in either direction. Conclusions: Strategy score on a spatial working memory task was associated with FA in preterm and full term children, suggesting common underlying neurobiology in both groups. Associations were found in frontal-parietal connections and other major tracts. Lack of associations between other EF tasks and FA may be due to variation in how children accomplish these EF tasks. Future research is required to fully understand the neurobiology of EF in children born preterm.
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Affiliation(s)
- Irene M. Loe
- Department of Pediatrics, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, United States
| | - Jenna N. Adams
- Helen Wills Neuroscience Institute, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA, United States
| | - Heidi M. Feldman
- Department of Pediatrics, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, United States
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15
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Rogers CE, Lean RE, Wheelock MD, Smyser CD. Aberrant structural and functional connectivity and neurodevelopmental impairment in preterm children. J Neurodev Disord 2018; 10:38. [PMID: 30541449 PMCID: PMC6291944 DOI: 10.1186/s11689-018-9253-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 75] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/27/2017] [Accepted: 11/14/2018] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Despite advances in antenatal and neonatal care, preterm birth remains a leading cause of neurological disabilities in children. Infants born prematurely, particularly those delivered at the earliest gestational ages, commonly demonstrate increased rates of impairment across multiple neurodevelopmental domains. Indeed, the current literature establishes that preterm birth is a leading risk factor for cerebral palsy, is associated with executive function deficits, increases risk for impaired receptive and expressive language skills, and is linked with higher rates of co-occurring attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, anxiety, and autism spectrum disorders. These same infants also demonstrate elevated rates of aberrant cerebral structural and functional connectivity, with persistent changes evident across advanced magnetic resonance imaging modalities as early as the neonatal period. Emerging findings from cross-sectional and longitudinal investigations increasingly suggest that aberrant connectivity within key functional networks and white matter tracts may underlie the neurodevelopmental impairments common in this population. Main body This review begins by highlighting the elevated rates of neurodevelopmental disorders across domains in this clinical population, describes the patterns of aberrant structural and functional connectivity common in prematurely-born infants and children, and then reviews the increasingly established body of literature delineating the relationship between these brain abnormalities and adverse neurodevelopmental outcomes. We also detail important, typically understudied, clinical, and social variables that may influence these relationships among preterm children, including heritability and psychosocial risks. Conclusion Future work in this domain should continue to leverage longitudinal evaluations of preterm infants which include both neuroimaging and detailed serial neurodevelopmental assessments to further characterize relationships between imaging measures and impairment, information necessary for advancing our understanding of modifiable risk factors underlying these disorders and best practices for improving neurodevelopmental trajectories in this high-risk clinical population.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cynthia E Rogers
- Departments of Psychiatry and Pediatrics, Washington University School of Medicine, 660 South Euclid Avenue, Campus Box 8504, St. Louis, MO, 63110, USA.
| | - Rachel E Lean
- Departments of Psychiatry, Washington University School of Medicine, 660 South Euclid Avenue, Campus Box 8504, St. Louis, MO, 63110, USA
| | - Muriah D Wheelock
- Departments of Psychiatry, Washington University School of Medicine, 660 South Euclid Avenue, Campus Box 8504, St. Louis, MO, 63110, USA
| | - Christopher D Smyser
- Departments of Neurology, Pediatrics and Mallinckrodt Institute of Radiology, Washington University School of Medicine, 660 South Euclid Avenue, Campus Box 8111, St. Louis, MO, 63110, USA
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16
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Hodel AS. Rapid Infant Prefrontal Cortex Development and Sensitivity to Early Environmental Experience. DEVELOPMENTAL REVIEW 2018; 48:113-144. [PMID: 30270962 PMCID: PMC6157748 DOI: 10.1016/j.dr.2018.02.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 64] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/12/2023]
Abstract
Over the last fifteen years, the emerging field of developmental cognitive neuroscience has described the relatively late development of prefrontal cortex in children and the relation between gradual structural changes and children's protracted development of prefrontal-dependent skills. Widespread recognition by the broader scientific community of the extended development of prefrontal cortex has led to the overwhelming perception of prefrontal cortex as a "late developing" region of the brain. However, despite its supposedly protracted development, multiple lines of research have converged to suggest that prefrontal cortex development may be particularly susceptible to individual differences in children's early environments. Recent studies demonstrate that the impacts of early adverse environments on prefrontal cortex are present very early in development: within the first year of life. This review provides a comprehensive overview of new neuroimaging evidence demonstrating that prefrontal cortex should be characterized as a "rapidly developing" region of the brain, discusses the converging impacts of early adversity on prefrontal circuits, and presents potential mechanisms via which adverse environments shape both concurrent and long-term measures of prefrontal cortex development. Given that environmentally-induced disparities are present in prefrontal cortex development within the first year of life, translational work in intervention and/or prevention science should focus on intervening early in development to take advantages of this early period of rapid prefrontal development and heightened plasticity.
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17
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Young JM, Morgan BR, Whyte HEA, Lee W, Smith ML, Raybaud C, Shroff MM, Sled JG, Taylor MJ. Longitudinal Study of White Matter Development and Outcomes in Children Born Very Preterm. Cereb Cortex 2018; 27:4094-4105. [PMID: 27600850 DOI: 10.1093/cercor/bhw221] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/27/2016] [Accepted: 06/14/2016] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Identifying trajectories of early white matter development is important for understanding atypical brain development and impaired functional outcomes in children born very preterm (<32 weeks gestational age [GA]). In this study, 161 diffusion images were acquired in children born very preterm (median GA: 29 weeks) shortly following birth (75), term-equivalent (39), 2 years (18), and 4 years of age (29). Diffusion tensors were computed to obtain measures of fractional anisotropy (FA), mean diffusivity (MD), axial diffusivity (AD), and radial diffusivity (RD), which were aligned and averaged. A paediatric atlas was applied to obtain diffusion metrics within 12 white matter tracts. Developmental trajectories across time points demonstrated age-related changes which plateaued between term-equivalent and 2 years of age in the majority of posterior tracts and between 2 and 4 years of age in anterior tracts. Between preterm and term-equivalent scans, FA rates of change were slower in anterior than posterior tracts. Partial least squares analyses revealed associations between slower MD and RD rates of change within the external and internal capsule with lower intelligence quotients and language scores at 4 years of age. These results uniquely demonstrate early white matter development and its linkage to cognitive functions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Julia M Young
- 1 Department of Diagnostic Imaging, Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Ontario, Canada M5G 1X8.,Program in Neurosciences & Mental Health, Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Ontario, Canada M5G 1X8.,Department of Psychology, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Benjamin R Morgan
- 1Department of Diagnostic Imaging, Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Ontario, Canada M5G 1X8
| | - Hilary E A Whyte
- Program in Neurosciences & Mental Health, Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Ontario, Canada M5G 1X8.,Department of Neonatology, Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Ontario, Canada M5G 1X8
| | - Wayne Lee
- 1Department of Diagnostic Imaging, Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Ontario, Canada M5G 1X8
| | - Mary Lou Smith
- Program in Neurosciences & Mental Health, Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Ontario, Canada M5G 1X8.,Department of Psychology, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.,Department of Psychology, Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Ontario, Canada M5G 1X8
| | - Charles Raybaud
- 1 Department of Diagnostic Imaging, Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Ontario, Canada M5G 1X8.,Department of Medical Imaging, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Manohar M Shroff
- 1 Department of Diagnostic Imaging, Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Ontario, Canada M5G 1X8.,Department of Medical Imaging, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - John G Sled
- Program in Physiology and Experimental Medicine, Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Ontario, Canada M5G 1X8.,Department of Medical Biophysics, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Margot J Taylor
- 1 Department of Diagnostic Imaging, Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Ontario, Canada M5G 1X8.,Program in Neurosciences & Mental Health, Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Ontario, Canada M5G 1X8.,Department of Psychology, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.,Department of Medical Imaging, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
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18
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Anderson DE, Patel AD. Infants born preterm, stress, and neurodevelopment in the neonatal intensive care unit: might music have an impact? Dev Med Child Neurol 2018; 60:256-266. [PMID: 29363098 DOI: 10.1111/dmcn.13663] [Citation(s) in RCA: 49] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 11/09/2017] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Abstract
AIM The neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) provides life-saving medical care for an increasing number of newborn infants each year. NICU care, while lifesaving, does have attendant consequences which can include repeated activation of the stress response and reduced maternal interaction, with possible negative long-term impacts on brain development. Here we present a neuroscientific framework for considering the impact of music on neurodevelopment in the NICU of infants born preterm and evaluate current literature on the use of music with this population to determine what is most reliably known of the physiological effects of music interventions. METHOD Using online academic databases we collected relevant, experimental studies aimed at determining effects of music listening in infants in the NICU. These articles were evaluated for methodological rigor, ranking the 10 most experimentally stringent as a representative sample. RESULTS The selected literature seems to indicate that effects are present on the cardio-pulmonary system and behavior of neonates, although the relative effect size remains unclear. INTERPRETATION These findings indicate a need for more standardized longitudinal studies aimed at determining not only whether NICU music exposure has beneficial effects on the cardio-pulmonary system, but also on the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis, brain structures, and cognitive behavioral status of these children as well. WHAT THIS PAPER ADDS Provides a neuroscience framework for considering how music might attenuate stress in neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) infants. Considers how repeated stress may cause negative neurodevelopmental impacts in infants born preterm. Posits epigenetics can serve as a mechanistic pathway for music moderating the stress response.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dane E Anderson
- SDSU Brain Development Imaging Laboratory, San Diego, CA, USA
| | - Aniruddh D Patel
- Department of Psychology, Tufts University, Medford, MA, USA.,Azrieli Program in Brain, Mind, & Consciousness, Canadian Institute for Advanced Research (CIFAR), Toronto, ON, Canada
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19
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Young JM, Vandewouw MM, Morgan BR, Smith ML, Sled JG, Taylor MJ. Altered white matter development in children born very preterm. Brain Struct Funct 2018; 223:2129-2141. [PMID: 29380120 DOI: 10.1007/s00429-018-1614-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/17/2017] [Accepted: 01/17/2018] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
Children born very preterm (VPT) at less than 32 weeks' gestational age (GA) are prone to disrupted white matter maturation and impaired cognitive development. The aims of the present study were to identify differences in white matter microstructure and connectivity of children born VPT compared to term-born children, as well as relations between white matter measures with cognitive outcomes and early brain injury. Diffusion images and T1-weighted anatomical MR images were acquired along with developmental assessments in 31 VPT children (mean GA: 28.76 weeks) and 28 term-born children at 4 years of age. FSL's tract-based spatial statistics was used to create a cohort-specific template and mean fractional anisotropy (FA) skeleton that was applied to each child's DTI data. Whole brain deterministic tractography was performed and graph theoretical measures of connectivity were calculated based on the number of streamlines between cortical and subcortical nodes derived from the Desikan-Killiany atlas. Between-group analyses included FSL Randomise for voxel-wise statistics and permutation testing for connectivity analyses. Within-group analyses between FA values and graph measures with IQ, language and visual-motor scores as well as history of white matter injury (WMI) and germinal matrix/intraventricular haemorrhage (GMH/IVH) were performed. In the children born VPT, FA values within major white matter tracts were reduced compared to term-born children. Reduced measures of local strength, clustering coefficient, local and global efficiency were present in the children born VPT within nodes in the lateral frontal, middle and superior temporal, cingulate, precuneus and lateral occipital regions. Within-group analyses revealed associations in term-born children between FA, Verbal IQ, Performance IQ and Full scale IQ within regions of the superior longitudinal fasciculus, inferior fronto-occipital fasciculus, forceps minor and forceps major. No associations with outcome were found in the VPT group. Global efficiency was reduced in the children born VPT with a history of WMI and GMH/IVH. These findings are evidence for under-developed and less connected white matter in children born VPT, contributing to our understanding of white matter development within this population.
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Affiliation(s)
- Julia M Young
- Diagnostic Imaging, Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, ON, Canada. .,Neurosciences and Mental Health, SickKids Research Institute, Toronto, ON, Canada. .,Department of Psychology, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada.
| | - Marlee M Vandewouw
- Diagnostic Imaging, Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, ON, Canada.,Neurosciences and Mental Health, SickKids Research Institute, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Benjamin R Morgan
- Diagnostic Imaging, Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, ON, Canada.,Neurosciences and Mental Health, SickKids Research Institute, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Mary Lou Smith
- Department of Psychology, Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, ON, Canada.,Neurosciences and Mental Health, SickKids Research Institute, Toronto, ON, Canada.,Department of Psychology, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - John G Sled
- Translational Medicine, SickKids Research Institute, Toronto, ON, Canada.,Department of Medical Biophysics, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Margot J Taylor
- Diagnostic Imaging, Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, ON, Canada.,Neurosciences and Mental Health, SickKids Research Institute, Toronto, ON, Canada.,Department of Medical Imaging, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada.,Department of Psychology, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
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20
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Functional neural bases of numerosity judgments in healthy adults born preterm. Brain Cogn 2017; 118:90-99. [PMID: 28802184 DOI: 10.1016/j.bandc.2017.07.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/14/2017] [Revised: 07/25/2017] [Accepted: 07/31/2017] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
High rates of mathematics learning disabilities among individuals born preterm (<37weeksGA) have spurred calls for a greater understanding of the nature of these weaknesses and their neural underpinnings. Groups of healthy, high functioning young adults born preterm and full term (n=20) completed a symbolic and non-symbolic magnitude comparison task while undergoing functional MRI scanning. Collectively, participants showed activation in superior and inferior frontal and parietal regions previously linked to numeric processing when comparing non-symbolic magnitude arrays separated by small numeric distances. Simultaneous deactivation of the default mode network also was evident during these trials. Individuals born preterm showed increased signal change relative to their full term peers in right inferior frontal and parietal regions when comparing the non-symbolic magnitude arrays. Elevated signal change during non-symbolic task blocks was associated with poorer performance on a calculation task administered outside of the scanner. These findings indicate that healthy, high-functioning adults born preterm may recruit fronto-parietal networks more extensively when processing non-symbolic magnitudes, suggesting that approximate number system training may be an inroad for early intervention to prevent mathematics difficulties in this population.
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21
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Mossad SI, Smith ML, Pang EW, Taylor MJ. Neural correlates of "Theory of Mind" in very preterm born children. Hum Brain Mapp 2017; 38:5577-5589. [PMID: 28766907 DOI: 10.1002/hbm.23750] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/02/2016] [Revised: 07/13/2017] [Accepted: 07/20/2017] [Indexed: 11/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Very preterm (VPT) birth (<32 weeks' gestational age) has been implicated in social-cognitive deficits including Theory of Mind (ToM); the ability to attribute mental states to others and understand that those beliefs can differ from one's own or reality. The neural bases for ToM deficits in VPT born children have not been examined. We used magnetoencephalography (MEG) for its excellent spatial and temporal resolution to determine the neural underpinnings of ToM in 24 VPT and 24 full-term born (FT) children (7-13 years). VPT children performed more poorly on neuropsychological measures of ToM but not inhibition. In the MEG task, both FT children and VPT children recruited regions involved in false belief processing such as the rIFG (VPT: 275-350 ms, FT: 250-375 ms) and left inferior temporal gyrus (VPT: 375-450 ms, FT: 325-375 ms) and right fusiform gyrus (VPT: 150-200 ms, FT: 175-250 ms). The rIPL (included in the temporal-parietal junction) was recruited in FT children (475-575 ms) and the lTPJ in VPT children (500-575 ms). However, activations in all regions were reduced in the VPT compared to the FT group. We suggest that with increasing social-cognitive demands such as varying the type of scenarios in the standardized measure of ToM, reduced activations in the rIFG and TPJ in the VPT group may reflect the decreased performance. With access to both spatial and temporal information, we discuss the role of domain general and specific regions of the ToM network in both groups. Hum Brain Mapp 38:5577-5589, 2017. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sarah I Mossad
- Department of Diagnostic Imaging, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Canada.,Department of Neuroscience & Mental Health, The Hospital for Sick Children Research Institute, Toronto, Canada.,Department of Psychology, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada
| | - Mary Lou Smith
- Department of Neuroscience & Mental Health, The Hospital for Sick Children Research Institute, Toronto, Canada.,Department of Psychology, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada.,Department of Psychology, Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Canada
| | - Elizabeth W Pang
- Department of Neuroscience & Mental Health, The Hospital for Sick Children Research Institute, Toronto, Canada.,Division of Neurology, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Canada
| | - Margot J Taylor
- Department of Diagnostic Imaging, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Canada.,Department of Neuroscience & Mental Health, The Hospital for Sick Children Research Institute, Toronto, Canada.,Department of Psychology, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada.,Division of Neurology, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Canada.,Department of Medical Imaging, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada
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22
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Vollmer B, Lundequist A, Mårtensson G, Nagy Z, Lagercrantz H, Smedler AC, Forssberg H. Correlation between white matter microstructure and executive functions suggests early developmental influence on long fibre tracts in preterm born adolescents. PLoS One 2017; 12:e0178893. [PMID: 28594884 PMCID: PMC5464584 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0178893] [Citation(s) in RCA: 48] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/08/2016] [Accepted: 05/19/2017] [Indexed: 12/04/2022] Open
Abstract
Main objectives Executive functions are frequently a weakness in children born preterm. We examined associations of executive functions and general cognitive abilities with brain structure in preterm born adolescents who were born with appropriate weight for gestational age and who have no radiological signs of preterm brain injury on neuroimaging. Methods The Stockholm Neonatal Project (SNP) is a longitudinal, population-based study of children born preterm (<36 weeks of gestation) with very low birth weight (<1501g) between 1988–1993. At age 18 years (mean 18 years, SD 2 weeks) 134 preterm born and 94 full term participants underwent psychological assessment (general intelligence, executive function measures). Of these, 71 preterm and 63 full term participants underwent Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) at mean 15.2 years (range 12–18 years), including 3D T1-weighted images for volumetric analyses and Diffusion Tensor Imaging (DTI) for assessment of white matter microstructure. Group comparisons of regional grey and white matter volumes and fractional anisotropy (FA, as a measure of white matter microstructure) and, within each group, correlation analyses of cognitive measures with MRI metrics were carried out. Results Significant differences in grey and white matter regional volumes and widespread differences in FA were seen between the two groups. No significant correlations were found between cognitive measures and brain volumes in any group after correction for multiple comparisons. However, there were significant correlations between FA in projection fibres and long association fibres, linking frontal, temporal, parietal, and occipital lobes, and measures of executive function and general cognitive abilities in the preterm born adolescents, but not in the term born adolescents. Overall significance of the study In persons born preterm, in the absence of perinatal brain injury on visual inspection of MRI, widespread alterations in regional brain tissue volumes and microstructure are present in adolescence/young adulthood. Importantly, these alterations in WM tracts are correlated with measures of executive function and general cognitive abilities. Our findings suggest that disturbance of neural pathways, rather than changes in regional brain volumes, are involved in the impaired cognitive functions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Brigitte Vollmer
- Neuropaediatrics, Department of Women’s and Children’s Health, Karolinska Institutet, Astrid Lindgren Children’s Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden
- Clinical Neurosciences, Clinical and Experimental Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, University of Southampton, Southampton, United Kingdom
- * E-mail:
| | - Aiko Lundequist
- Neuropaediatrics, Department of Women’s and Children’s Health, Karolinska Institutet, Astrid Lindgren Children’s Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Gustaf Mårtensson
- Neuropaediatrics, Department of Women’s and Children’s Health, Karolinska Institutet, Astrid Lindgren Children’s Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Zoltan Nagy
- Department of Economics, University of Zürich, Zürich, Switzerland
| | - Hugo Lagercrantz
- Neonatal Research Unit, Department of Women’s and Children’s Health, Karolinska Institutet, Astrid Lindgren Children’s Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden
| | | | - Hans Forssberg
- Neuropaediatrics, Department of Women’s and Children’s Health, Karolinska Institutet, Astrid Lindgren Children’s Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden
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McCann M, Bayliss DM, Anderson M, Campbell C, French N, McMichael J, Reid C, Bucks RS. The relationship between sleep problems and working memory in children born very preterm. Child Neuropsychol 2016; 24:124-144. [DOI: 10.1080/09297049.2016.1235144] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/20/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Marie McCann
- School of Psychology, University of Western Australia, Crawley, Australia
| | - Donna M. Bayliss
- School of Psychology, University of Western Australia, Crawley, Australia
| | - Mike Anderson
- School of Psychology and Exercise Science, Murdoch University, Murdoch, Australia
| | - Catherine Campbell
- Neonatology Clinical Care Unit, King Edward Memorial Hospital, Subiaco, Australia
- Centre for Neonatal Research and Education, School of Paediatrics and Child Health, University of Western Australia, Crawley, Australia
| | - Noel French
- Neonatology Clinical Care Unit, King Edward Memorial Hospital, Subiaco, Australia
- Centre for Neonatal Research and Education, School of Paediatrics and Child Health, University of Western Australia, Crawley, Australia
| | - Judy McMichael
- Neonatology Clinical Care Unit, King Edward Memorial Hospital, Subiaco, Australia
- Centre for Neonatal Research and Education, School of Paediatrics and Child Health, University of Western Australia, Crawley, Australia
| | - Corinne Reid
- School of Psychology and Exercise Science, Murdoch University, Murdoch, Australia
| | - Romola S. Bucks
- School of Psychology, University of Western Australia, Crawley, Australia
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24
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Coker-Bolt P, Barbour A, Moss H, Tillman J, Humphries E, Ward E, Brown T, Jenkins D. Correlating early motor skills to white matter abnormalities in preterm infants using diffusion tensor imaging. J Pediatr Rehabil Med 2016; 9:185-93. [PMID: 27612078 DOI: 10.3233/prm-160380] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/02/2023] Open
Abstract
PURPOSE Diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) can detect injury to specific white matter (WM) tracts involved with sensorimotor processing and may provide sensitive measures for latent or nascent motor skills. We hypothesized that DTI measures of WM fractional anisotropy (FA) could predict early motor scores on a standardized assessment in a cohort of preterm infants at risk for WM injury. METHODS In this prospective study, preterm infants (n= 26, 11 female, 15 male, mean gestational age 29.1 ± 2.5) underwent the Test of Infant Motor Performance (TIMP) at term and at 12 weeks corrected age (CA) and underwent an non-sedated magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) with DTI at a mean of 42 ± 1.5 weeks CA. Fractional anisotropy (FA) was measured by Voxelwise statistical analysis using Tract-Based Spatial Statistics (TBSS) in the specific regions of interest. RESULTS Significant differences were found between infants with poor versus average performance on motor assessments at 12-weeks and FA values in several left hemispheric WM tracts (p< 0.05). High FA of the left anterior limb of the internal capsule (ALIC) predicted mean increase in TIMP scores on specific items for head lift in prone and head lift turn to sound (p= 0.045 and p= 0.002). CONCLUSION Subtle WM injury, as indicated by low FA in left WM tracts, can predict outcomes of early motor skills performance testing at 3 months. Early DTI may identify infants with silent WM injury who need early intervention. Further studies may establish if individual tract FA improve after targeted treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Patty Coker-Bolt
- Division of Occupational Therapy, College of Health Professions, Charleston, SC, USA
| | | | - Hunter Moss
- Division of Occupational Therapy, College of Health Professions, Charleston, SC, USA
| | - Jordan Tillman
- Division of Occupational Therapy, College of Health Professions, Charleston, SC, USA
| | - Emma Humphries
- Division of Occupational Therapy, College of Health Professions, Charleston, SC, USA
| | - Emily Ward
- Division of Occupational Therapy, College of Health Professions, Charleston, SC, USA
| | - Truman Brown
- Department of Radiology and Radiological Sciences, the Center for Advanced Imaging Research, MUSC, Charleston, SC, USA
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25
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Vercruysse DCM, Deprez S, Sunaert S, Van Calsteren K, Amant F. Effects of prenatal exposure to cancer treatment on neurocognitive development, a review. Neurotoxicology 2016; 54:11-21. [PMID: 26952827 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuro.2016.02.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/22/2015] [Revised: 02/28/2016] [Accepted: 02/28/2016] [Indexed: 01/09/2023]
Abstract
Due to the increasing incidence of cancer during pregnancy, the need to better understand long-term outcome after prenatal exposure to chemo- and/or radiotherapy has become more urgent. This manuscript focuses on the neurocognitive development after prenatal exposure to cancer treatment. We will review possible pathways for brain damage that could explain the subtle changes in neurocognition and behavior found after in utero exposure to cancer treatment. Contrary to radiation, which has a direct effect on the developing nervous system, chemotherapy has to pass the placental and blood brain barrier to reach the fetal brain. However, there are also indirect effects such as inflammation and oxidative stress. Furthermore, the indirect effects of the cancer itself and its treatment, e.g., poor maternal nutrition and high maternal stress, as well as prematurity, can be related to cognitive impairment. Although the available evidence suggests that cancer treatment can be administered during pregnancy without jeopardizing the fetal chances, larger numbers and longer follow up of these children are needed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dorothée C-M Vercruysse
- KU Leuven-University of Leuven, Department of Oncology, University Hospitals Leuven, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Gynecological Oncology, Herestraat 49, B-3000 Leuven, Belgium.
| | - Sabine Deprez
- KU Leuven-University of Leuven, Department of Radiology, University Hospitals Leuven, Department of Radiology, Herestraat 49, B-3000 Leuven, Belgium.
| | - Stefan Sunaert
- KU Leuven-University of Leuven, Department of Radiology, University Hospitals Leuven, Department of Radiology, Herestraat 49, B-3000 Leuven, Belgium.
| | - Kristel Van Calsteren
- KU Leuven-University of Leuven, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University Hospitals Leuven, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Herestraat 49, B-3000 Leuven, Belgium.
| | - Frederic Amant
- KU Leuven-University of Leuven, Department of Oncology, B-3000 Leuven, Belgium; The Netherlands Cancer Institute, Antoni van Leeuwenhoek Hospital, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
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26
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Fischi-Gomez E, Muñoz-Moreno E, Vasung L, Griffa A, Borradori-Tolsa C, Monnier M, Lazeyras F, Thiran JP, Hüppi PS. Brain network characterization of high-risk preterm-born school-age children. Neuroimage Clin 2016; 11:195-209. [PMID: 26955515 PMCID: PMC4761723 DOI: 10.1016/j.nicl.2016.02.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 45] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/30/2015] [Revised: 01/20/2016] [Accepted: 02/04/2016] [Indexed: 01/14/2023]
Abstract
Higher risk for long-term cognitive and behavioral impairments is one of the hallmarks of extreme prematurity (EP) and pregnancy-associated fetal adverse conditions such as intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR). While neurodevelopmental delay and abnormal brain function occur in the absence of overt brain lesions, these conditions have been recently associated with changes in microstructural brain development. Recent imaging studies indicate changes in brain connectivity, in particular involving the white matter fibers belonging to the cortico-basal ganglia-thalamic loop. Furthermore, EP and IUGR have been related to altered brain network architecture in childhood, with reduced network global capacity, global efficiency and average nodal strength. In this study, we used a connectome analysis to characterize the structural brain networks of these children, with a special focus on their topological organization. On one hand, we confirm the reduced averaged network node degree and strength due to EP and IUGR. On the other, the decomposition of the brain networks in an optimal set of clusters remained substantially different among groups, talking in favor of a different network community structure. However, and despite the different community structure, the brain networks of these high-risk school-age children maintained the typical small-world, rich-club and modularity characteristics in all cases. Thus, our results suggest that brain reorganizes after EP and IUGR, prioritizing a tight modular structure, to maintain the small-world, rich-club and modularity characteristics. By themselves, both extreme prematurity and IUGR bear a similar risk for neurocognitive and behavioral impairment, and the here defined modular network alterations confirm similar structural changes both by IUGR and EP at school age compared to control. Interestingly, the combination of both conditions (IUGR + EP) does not result in a worse outcome. In such cases, the alteration in network topology appears mainly driven by the effect of extreme prematurity, suggesting that these brain network alterations present at school age have their origin in a common critical period, both for intrauterine and extrauterine adverse conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elda Fischi-Gomez
- Signal Processing Laboratory 5, École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL), Lausanne, Switzerland; Division of Development and Growth, Department of Pediatrics, University Hospital of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland.
| | - Emma Muñoz-Moreno
- Fetal i+D Fetal Medicine Research Center, BCNatal - Barcelona Center for Maternal-Fetal and Neonatal Medicine (Hospital Clínic and Hospital Sant Joan de Deu), IDIBAPS, University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Lana Vasung
- Division of Development and Growth, Department of Pediatrics, University Hospital of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Alessandra Griffa
- Signal Processing Laboratory 5, École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL), Lausanne, Switzerland; Department of Radiology, University Hospital Center (CHUV) and University of Lausanne (UNIL), Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Cristina Borradori-Tolsa
- Division of Development and Growth, Department of Pediatrics, University Hospital of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Maryline Monnier
- Follow-up Unit, Neonatology Service, Department of Pediatrics University Hospital Center (CHUV) and University of Lausanne (UNIL), Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - François Lazeyras
- Department of Radiology and Medical Informatics, Faculty of Medicine, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Jean-Philippe Thiran
- Signal Processing Laboratory 5, École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL), Lausanne, Switzerland; Department of Radiology, University Hospital Center (CHUV) and University of Lausanne (UNIL), Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Petra S Hüppi
- Division of Development and Growth, Department of Pediatrics, University Hospital of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland
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Abstract
OBJECTIVES Clinical neuroscience is increasingly turning to imaging the human brain for answers to a range of questions and challenges. To date, the majority of studies have focused on the neural basis of current psychiatric symptoms, which can facilitate the identification of neurobiological markers for diagnosis. However, the increasing availability and feasibility of using imaging modalities, such as diffusion imaging and resting-state fMRI, enable longitudinal mapping of brain development. This shift in the field is opening the possibility of identifying predictive markers of risk or prognosis, and also represents a critical missing element for efforts to promote personalized or individualized medicine in psychiatry (i.e., stratified psychiatry). METHODS The present work provides a selective review of potentially high-yield populations for longitudinal examination with MRI, based upon our understanding of risk from epidemiologic studies and initial MRI findings. RESULTS Our discussion is organized into three topic areas: (1) practical considerations for establishing temporal precedence in psychiatric research; (2) readiness of the field for conducting longitudinal MRI, particularly for neurodevelopmental questions; and (3) illustrations of high-yield populations and time windows for examination that can be used to rapidly generate meaningful and useful data. Particular emphasis is placed on the implementation of time-appropriate, developmentally informed longitudinal designs, capable of facilitating the identification of biomarkers predictive of risk and prognosis. CONCLUSIONS Strategic longitudinal examination of the brain at-risk has the potential to bring the concepts of early intervention and prevention to psychiatry.
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Disconnected neuromagnetic networks in children born very preterm: Disconnected MEG networks in preterm children. NEUROIMAGE-CLINICAL 2015; 11:376-84. [PMID: 27330980 PMCID: PMC4589841 DOI: 10.1016/j.nicl.2015.08.016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/06/2015] [Revised: 08/24/2015] [Accepted: 08/25/2015] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Many children born very preterm (≤32 weeks) experience significant cognitive difficulties, but the biological basis of such problems has not yet been determined. Functional MRI studies have implicated altered functional connectivity; however, little is known regarding the spatiotemporal organization of brain networks in this population. We provide the first examination of resting-state neuromagnetic connectivity mapped in brain space in school age children born very preterm. Thirty-four subjects (age range 7–12 years old), consisting of 17 very preterm-born children and 17 full-term born children were included. Very preterm-born children exhibited global decreases in inter-regional synchrony in all analysed frequency ranges, from theta (4–7 Hz) to high gamma (80–150 Hz; p < 0.01, corrected). These reductions were expressed in spatially and frequency specific brain networks (p < 0.0005, corrected). Our results demonstrate that mapping connectivity with high spatiotemporal resolution offers new insights into altered organization of neurophysiological networks which may contribute to the cognitive difficulties in this vulnerable population. We recorded resting-state magnetoencephalography in school-age children born very preterm and healthy children. We examine functional connectivity across a wide frequency spectrum in brain space. Global reductions in neural synchrony were detected in children born very preterm. These reductions encompass networks related to executive function and overall cognitive flexibility. These effects may be relevant to cognitive and behavioural difficulties reported in the ex-preterm population.
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Kovachy VN, Adams JN, Tamaresis JS, Feldman HM. Reading abilities in school-aged preterm children: a review and meta-analysis. Dev Med Child Neurol 2015; 57:410-9. [PMID: 25516105 PMCID: PMC4397135 DOI: 10.1111/dmcn.12652] [Citation(s) in RCA: 67] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 10/16/2014] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
AIM Children born preterm (at ≤32wks) are at risk of developing deficits in reading ability. This meta-analysis aims to determine whether or not school-aged preterm children perform worse than those born at term in single-word reading (decoding) and reading comprehension. METHOD Electronic databases were searched for studies published between 2000 and 2013, which assessed decoding or reading comprehension performance in English-speaking preterm and term-born children aged between 6 years and 13 years, and born after 1990. Standardized mean differences in decoding and reading comprehension scores were calculated. RESULTS Nine studies were suitable for analysis of decoding, and five for analysis of reading comprehension. Random-effects meta-analyses showed that children born preterm had significantly lower scores (reported as Cohen's d values [d] with 95% confidence intervals [CIs]) than those born at term for decoding (d=-0.42, 95% CI -0.57 to -0.27, p<0.001) and reading comprehension (d=-0.57, 95% CI -0.68 to -0.46, p<0.001). Meta-regressions showed that lower gestational age was associated with larger differences in decoding (Q[1]=5.92, p=0.02) and reading comprehension (Q[1]=4.69, p=0.03) between preterm and term groups. Differences between groups increased with age for reading comprehension (Q[1]=5.10, p=0.02) and, although not significant, there was also a trend for increased group differences for decoding (Q[1]=3.44, p=0.06). INTERPRETATION Preterm children perform worse than peers born at term on decoding and reading comprehension. These findings suggest that preterm children should receive more ongoing monitoring for reading difficulties throughout their education.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vanessa N Kovachy
- Department of Pediatrics, Stanford School of Medicine, Palo Alto, CA, USA
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30
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Sripada K, Løhaugen GC, Eikenes L, Bjørlykke KM, Håberg AK, Skranes J, Rimol LM. Visual-motor deficits relate to altered gray and white matter in young adults born preterm with very low birth weight. Neuroimage 2015; 109:493-504. [PMID: 25592994 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroimage.2015.01.019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 44] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/07/2014] [Revised: 12/30/2014] [Accepted: 01/06/2015] [Indexed: 11/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Individuals born preterm and at very low birth weight (birth weight ≤ 1500 g) are at an increased risk of perinatal brain injury and neurodevelopmental deficits over the long term. This study examined whether this clinical group has more problems with visual-motor integration, motor coordination, and visual perception compared to term-born controls, and related these findings to cortical surface area and thickness and white matter fractional anisotropy. Forty-seven preterm-born very low birth weight individuals and 56 term-born controls were examined at 18-22 years of age with a combined cognitive, morphometric MRI, and diffusion tensor imaging evaluation in Trondheim, Norway. Visual-motor skills were evaluated with the Beery-Buktenica Developmental Test of Visual-Motor Integration-V (VMI) copying test and its supplemental tests of motor coordination and visual perception. 3D T1-weighted MPRAGE images and diffusion tensor imaging were done at 1.5 T. Cortical reconstruction generated in FreeSurfer and voxelwise maps of fractional anisotropy calculated with Tract-Based Spatial Statistics were used to explore the relationship between MRI findings and cognitive results. Very low birth weight individuals had significantly lower scores on the copying and motor coordination tests compared with controls. In the very low birth weight group, VMI scores showed significant positive relationships with cortical surface area in widespread regions, with reductions of the superior temporal gyrus, insula, and medial occipital lobe in conjunction with the posterior ventral temporal lobe. Visual perception scores also showed positive relationships with cortical thickness in the very low birth weight group, primarily in the lateral occipito-temporo-parietal junction, the superior temporal gyrus, insula, and superior parietal regions. In the very low birth weight group, visual-motor performance correlated positively with fractional anisotropy especially in the corpus callosum, inferior fronto-occipital fasciculus bilaterally, and anterior thalamic radiation bilaterally, driven primarily by an increase in radial diffusivity. VMI scores did not demonstrate a significant relationship to cortical surface area, cortical thickness, or diffusion measures in the control group. Our results indicate that visual-motor integration problems persist into adulthood for very low birth weight individuals, which may be due to structural alterations in several specific gray-white matter networks. Visual-motor deficits appear related to reduced surface area of motor and visual cortices and disturbed connectivity in long association tracts containing visual and motor information. We conjecture that these outcomes may be due to perinatal brain injury or aberrant cortical development secondary to injury or due to very preterm birth.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kam Sripada
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Children's and Women's Health, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Trondheim, Norway.
| | - Gro C Løhaugen
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Children's and Women's Health, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Trondheim, Norway; Department of Pediatrics, Sørlandet Hospital, Arendal, Norway
| | - Live Eikenes
- Department of Circulation and Medical Imaging, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Trondheim, Norway
| | | | - Asta K Håberg
- Department of Neuroscience, Faculty of Medicine, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Trondheim, Norway
| | - Jon Skranes
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Children's and Women's Health, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Trondheim, Norway; Department of Pediatrics, Sørlandet Hospital, Arendal, Norway
| | - Lars M Rimol
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Children's and Women's Health, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Trondheim, Norway
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Martin LJ, Cork LC. The non-human primate striatum undergoes marked prolonged remodeling during postnatal development. Front Cell Neurosci 2014; 8:294. [PMID: 25294985 PMCID: PMC4170103 DOI: 10.3389/fncel.2014.00294] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/31/2014] [Accepted: 09/02/2014] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
We examined the postnatal ontogeny of the striatum in rhesus monkeys (Macaca mulatta) to identify temporal and spatial patterns of histological and chemical maturation. Our goal was to determine whether this forebrain structure is developmentally static or dynamic in postnatal life. Brains from monkeys at 1 day, 1, 4, 6, 9, and 12 months of age (N = 12) and adult monkeys (N = 4) were analyzed. Nissl staining was used to assess striatal volume, cytoarchitecture, and apoptosis. Immunohistochemistry was used to localize and measure substance P (SP), leucine-enkephalin (LENK), tyrosine hydroxylase (TH), and calbindin D28 (CAL) immunoreactivities. Mature brain to body weight ratio was achieved at 4 months of age, and striatal volume increased from ∼1.2 to ∼1.4 cm(3) during the first postnatal year. Nissl staining identified, prominently in the caudate nucleus, developmentally persistent discrete cell islands with neuronal densities greater than the surrounding striatal parenchyma (matrix). Losses in neuronal density were observed in island and matrix regions during maturation, and differential developmental programmed cell death was observed in islands and matrix regions. Immunohistochemistry revealed striking changes occurring postnatally in striatal chemical neuroanatomy. At birth, the immature dopaminergic nigrostriatal innervation was characterized by islands enriched in TH-immunoreactive puncta (putative terminals) in the neuropil; TH-enriched islands aligned completely with areas enriched in SP immunoreactivity but low in LENK immunoreactivity. These areas enriched in SP immunoreactivity but low in LENK immunoreactivity were identified as striosome and matrix areas, respectively, because CAL immunoreactivity clearly delineated these territories. SP, LENK, and CAL immunoreactivities appeared as positive neuronal cell bodies, processes, and puncta. The matrix compartment at birth contained relatively low TH-immunoreactive processes and few SP-positive neurons but was densely populated with LENK-immunoreactive neurons. The nucleus accumbens part of the ventral striatum also showed prominent differences in SP, LENK, and CAL immunoreactivities in shell and core territories. During 12 months of postnatal maturation salient changes occurred in neurotransmitter marker localization: TH-positive afferents densely innervated the matrix to exceed levels of immunoreactivity in the striosomes; SP immunoreactivity levels increased in the matrix; and LENK-immunoreactivity levels decreased in the matrix and increased in the striosomes. At 12 months of age, striatal chemoarchitecture was similar qualitatively to adult patterns, but quantitatively different in LENK and SP in caudate, putamen, and nucleus accumbens. This study shows for the first time that the rhesus monkey striatum requires more than 12 months after birth to develop an adult-like pattern of chemical neuroanatomy and that principal neurons within striosomes and matrix have different developmental programs for neuropeptide expression. We conclude that postnatal maturation of the striatal mosaic in primates is not static but, rather, is a protracted and dynamic process that requires many synchronous and compartment-selective changes in afferent innervation and in the expression of genes that regulate neuronal phenotypes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lee J Martin
- Division of Neuropathology, Department of Pathology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine Baltimore, MD, USA ; Pathobiology Graduate Program, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine Baltimore, MD, USA ; Department of Neuroscience, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Linda C Cork
- Department of Comparative Medicine, Stanford University School of Medicine Palo Alto, CA, USA
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32
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Roth RM, Erdodi LA, McCulloch LJ, Isquith PK. Much ado about norming: the Behavior Rating Inventory of Executive Function. Child Neuropsychol 2014; 21:225-33. [PMID: 24650292 DOI: 10.1080/09297049.2014.897318] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/25/2022]
Abstract
The Behavior Rating Inventory of Executive Function (BRIEF) is a rating scale designed to assess executive functions in everyday life that is widely used in school and clinical settings and in research studies. It has been recently suggested, however, that the limited geographic stratification of the standardization sample renders the measure overly sensitive. We evaluated this hypothesis by examining BRIEF scores across studies of typically developing children and adolescents. Thirty-nine studies were identified that included at least one of three possible index scores. Mean scores across studies were (a) within one to two T-score units from the standardization sample mean of 50, (b) tended to be slightly lower than 50, and (c) were unrelated to geographic location (US Census regions or internationally). These findings refute recent claims that the BRIEF is overly sensitive and further add to the large body of literature supporting the validity of the measure.
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Affiliation(s)
- Robert M Roth
- a Neuropsychology Program, Department of Psychiatry , Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth , Lebanon , New Hampshire , USA
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Taylor MJ. Structure and function: how to connect? Neuroradiology 2013; 55 Suppl 2:55-64. [PMID: 23929311 DOI: 10.1007/s00234-013-1246-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/26/2013] [Accepted: 07/11/2013] [Indexed: 10/26/2022]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION The majority, but not all, of very preterm-born infants have difficulties with a variety of cognitive functions as children. It is critical to be able to predict as early as possible those who will have difficulties, to be able to direct appropriate interventions. METHODS We are conducting multimodal structural and functional MRI studies in very preterm-born infants and following them with behavioural and neuroimaging assessments until 4 years of age. We are also completing structural and more complex functional imaging in school-aged very preterm-born children. RESULTS A number of MRI measures between preterm and term age correlate with outcome at 2 years of age. Functional and structural differences are also seen at school age; examples from these various studies are presented. CONCLUSION Structural and functional studies in preterm-born versus term-born infants and children, particularly if completed longitudinally, provide important information on the evolution of brain-behaviour correlates and can help predict outcome in this high-risk population.
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Affiliation(s)
- Margot J Taylor
- Diagnostic Imaging, Neurosciences and Mental Health Programme, Hospital for Sick Children, 555 University Ave., Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
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