scholarly journals Decreased amygdala volume in adults after premature birth

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Benita Schmitz-Koep ◽  
Juliana Zimmermann ◽  
Aurore Menegaux ◽  
Rachel Nuttall ◽  
Josef G. Bäuml ◽  
...  

AbstractPremature-born infants have impaired amygdala structure, presumably due to increased stress levels of premature birth mediated by the amygdala. However, accounting for lifelong plasticity of amygdala, it is unclear whether such structural changes persist into adulthood. To address this problem, we stated the following questions: first, are whole amygdala volumes reduced in premature-born adults? And second, as adult anxiety traits are often increased after prematurity and linked with amygdala structure, are alterations in amygdala associated with adults’ anxiety traits after premature birth? We addressed these questions by automated amygdala segmentation of MRI volumes in 101 very premature-born adults (< 32 weeks of gestation and/or birth weight below 1500 g) and 108 full-term controls at 26 years of age of a prospectively and longitudinally collected cohort. We found significantly lower whole amygdala volumes in premature-born adults. While premature-born adults had significantly higher T score for avoidant personality reflecting increased social anxiety trait, this trait was not correlated with amygdala volume alterations. Results demonstrate reduced amygdala volumes in premature born adults. Data suggest lasting effects of prematurity on amygdala structure.

2021 ◽  
Vol 13 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dennis M. Hedderich ◽  
Aurore Menegaux ◽  
Benita Schmitz-Koep ◽  
Rachel Nuttall ◽  
Juliana Zimmermann ◽  
...  

Recent evidence suggests increased metabolic and physiologic aging rates in premature-born adults. While the lasting consequences of premature birth on human brain development are known, its impact on brain aging remains unclear. We addressed the question of whether premature birth impacts brain age gap estimates (BrainAGE) using an accurate and robust machine-learning framework based on structural MRI in a large cohort of young premature-born adults (n = 101) and full-term (FT) controls (n = 111). Study participants are part of a geographically defined population study of premature-born individuals, which have been followed longitudinally from birth until young adulthood. We investigated the association between BrainAGE scores and perinatal variables as well as with outcomes of physical (total intracranial volume, TIV) and cognitive development (full-scale IQ, FS-IQ). We found increased BrainAGE in premature-born adults [median (interquartile range) = 1.4 (−1.3–4.7 years)] compared to full-term controls (p = 0.002, Cohen’s d = 0.443), which was associated with low Gestational age (GA), low birth weight (BW), and increased neonatal treatment intensity but not with TIV or FS-IQ. In conclusion, results demonstrate elevated BrainAGE in premature-born adults, suggesting an increased risk for accelerated brain aging in human prematurity.


2012 ◽  
Vol 40 (2) ◽  
pp. 336-357 ◽  
Author(s):  
SUVI STOLT ◽  
JAAKKO MATOMÄKI ◽  
LEENA HAATAJA ◽  
HELENA LAPINLEIMU ◽  
LIISA LEHTONEN ◽  
...  

ABSTRACTIt is not well understood how grammar emerges in very-low-birth-weight (VLBW) children. The main aim of the present study was to gain information on the emergence of grammar in this group at 2 ; 0. The Finnish version of the Communicative Development Inventory was used to collect data from VLBW children (N = 156) and full-term controls (N = 146). At a group level, the grammatical skills of the VLBW children were significantly weaker than those of the controls. However, when the effect of lexicon size and premature birth on the emergence of grammar was analyzed in detail, few significant differences were found between the groups. The results suggest that even though grammar emerges more slowly for the VLBW children, it emerges in a manner comparable to that of the controls, when the effect of lexicon size is taken into consideration.


2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Aurore Menegaux ◽  
Dennis M. Hedderich ◽  
Josef G. Bäuml ◽  
Andrei Manoliu ◽  
Marcel Daamen ◽  
...  

Abstract Premature-born adults exhibit lasting white matter alterations as demonstrated by widespread reduction in fractional anisotropy (FA) based on diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI). FA reduction, however, is non-specific for microscopic underpinnings such as aberrant myelination or fiber density (FD). Using recent advances in DWI, we tested the hypothesis of reduced FD in premature-born adults and investigated its link with the degree of prematurity and cognition. 73 premature- and 89 mature-born adults aged 25–27 years underwent single-shell DWI, from which a FD measure was derived using convex optimization modeling for microstructure informed tractography (COMMIT). Premature-born adults exhibited lower FD in numerous tracts including the corpus callosum and corona radiata compared to mature-born adults. These FD alterations were associated with both the degree of prematurity, as assessed via gestational age and birth weight, as well as with reduced cognition as measured by full-scale IQ. Finally, lower FD overlapped with lower FA, suggesting lower FD underlie unspecific FA reductions. Results provide evidence that premature birth leads to lower FD in adulthood which links with lower full-scale IQ. Data suggest that lower FD partly underpins FA reductions of premature birth but that other processes such as hypomyelination might also take place.


2021 ◽  
Vol 80 (Suppl 1) ◽  
pp. 776.3-777
Author(s):  
S. Miri ◽  
H. Ferjani ◽  
K. Maatallah ◽  
A. Kasraoui ◽  
D. Kaffel ◽  
...  

Background:Osteoporosis is an increasingly important health problem among patients with spondyloarthritis (SPA). The Measure of Bone Mineral Density BMD is routinely carried out in an anteroposterior (AP) view of the spine. However, the syndesmophytes, ligaments calcifications, and the posterior part of vertebrae affect AP scanning. A lateral spine view is a more sensitive tool in assessing bone loss in trabecular bone.Objectives:We aimed to evaluate the association between lateral lumbar DXA and syndesmophyte grading in patients with SPA.Methods:We conducted a retrospective study including 75 patients with SPA. Bone density of the hip and lumbar spine was measured with a GE Lunar Prodigy Advance Bone Densitometer equipment. All patients had lumbar lateral, AP, and proximal femur DXA scans. The T-score, which measures the difference between a patient’s BMD and young-normal subjects, was computed and age-matched.Results:The mean age of the patients was 36±11 years. Male predominance was noted with a sex ratio of 4.76. The mean BMI was 25±5 kg/m2. Eight percent were obese. Fifty-two percent had Vitamin D deficiency.Forty-eight percent of the patients had axial SPA, while 52% had axial and peripheral symptoms.The mean age of onset was 27±7 years. Fifty-two percent of the patients had high inflammatory biomarkers. The BASDAI, ASDAS-VS, and ASDAS-CRP mean levels were respectively: 3.5±2.4, 3.1±0.9, and 3±0.8. The mean BASRI and mass were respectively 8 + 4.8 and 16.4 + 19.4. Analyses of T-score values obtained over the femoral neck revealed osteoporosis in 18.7% of the cases and osteopenia in 32% of the cases. On the other hand, analyses of AP, spine views revealed osteoporosis in 25.3% and osteopenia in 45.3% of patients (p=0.028, r=0.254). We detected the highest percentage of osteoporosis in lateral lumbar view and T-scores matched more closely with femoral neck values; osteoporosis in 29.3%, and osteopenia in 22.7% of the patients (p<10-3, r=0.562). BMD measured in AP, and lateral views were in good agreement (p<10-3, p=0.592). Age was inversely but not significantly associated with BMD in lateral (p=0.442, r=-0.09), AP (p=0.319, r=-0.117) and femoral neck projections (p=0.179, r=-0.157). Femoral neck BMD was associated with the activity of SPA (ASDAS vs (p=0.027, r= -0.295), and the mobility limitation BASMI (p=0.032, r= -0.247). Coxitis, BASRI, or mSASS were independent of BMD.Conclusion:We conclude that spine lateral view in DXA accurately measures BMD exceeding the AP spine views and femoral neck values. Therefore, structural changes do not affect this measurementDisclosure of Interests:None declared.


2020 ◽  
Vol 149 ◽  
pp. 105154 ◽  
Author(s):  
Elaine Luiza Santos Soares de Mendonça ◽  
Mateus de Lima Macêna ◽  
Nassib Bezerra Bueno ◽  
Alane Cabral Menezes de Oliveira ◽  
Carolina Santos Mello

2011 ◽  
Vol 14 (2) ◽  
pp. 884-898 ◽  
Author(s):  
Flávia Helena Pereira Padovani ◽  
Geraldo Duarte ◽  
Francisco Eulógio Martinez ◽  
Maria Beatriz Martins Linhares

The purpose of the present study was: a) to describe the theme of verbalizations about breastfeeding in mothers' pre-term (M-PT) and full-term (M-FT) infants; b) to examine the association between these themes and mother's anxiety and depression indicators and socio-demographic characteristics and, neonatal characteristics of the infants. The sample consisted of 50 M-PT and 25 M-FT. The mothers were assessed through State-Trait Anxiety Inventory and Beck Depression Inventory and were interviewed using a Guide focusing breastfeeding issues. The M-PT group had significantly more mothers with clinical symptom of anxiety than the M-FT group. The M-PT reported more uncertainties and worries about breastfeeding and figured out more obstacles for the successful breastfeeding than the M-FT. These reports were associated positively with the infants' risk neonatal status; lower birth-weight, higher neonatal clinical risk, and more length time stay in NICU were associated with more mothers' worries and seeing obstacles for breastfeeding. In conclusion, the strategies to enhance the breastfeeding rate in the preterm population have to take into account the mothers' psychological status and their ideas in addition to offering information about the advantages of breastfeeding for child development.


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