Attention Problems in a Representative Sample of Extremely Preterm/Extremely Low Birth Weight Children

AbstractThe aim of this study was to evaluate attention difficulties in a contemporary geographic cohort of adolescents born extremely preterm (EP, <28 weeks’ gestation) or extremely low birth weight (ELBW, birth weight <1000 g). The EP/ELBW group included 228 adolescents (mean age = 17.0 years) born in Victoria, Australia in 1991 and 1992. The control group were 166 adolescents (mean age = 17.4 years) born of normal birth weight (birth weight >2499 g) who were recruited in the newborn period and matched to the EP/ELBW group on date of birth, gender, language spoken and health insurance status. Participants were assessed on measures of selective, sustained, and executive (shift and divided) attention, and parents and participants completed behavioral reports. The EP/ELBW group performed more poorly across tests of selective and executive attention, had greater rates of clinically significant difficulties compared with the control group, and also had greater behavioral attention problems as reported by parents. Neonatal risk factors were weakly associated with attention outcomes. In conclusion, higher rates of attention impairments are observed in individuals born EP/ELBW well into adolescence and may have consequences for their transition to adulthood. (JINS, 2013,19, 1–12)

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Increasing rates of motor impairments at 8 years in extremely preterm or extremely low birth weight children born between 1991-2005

Journal of Paediatrics and Child Health ◽

10.1111/jpc.13494_280 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 53 ◽

pp. 95-95

Keyword(s):

Birth Weight ◽

Low Birth Weight ◽

Extremely Low Birth Weight ◽

Motor Impairments ◽

Extremely Preterm ◽

Low Birth Weight Children

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Microstructural Measures of the Inferior Longitudinal Fasciculus Predict Later Cognitive and Language Development in Infants Born With Extremely Low Birth Weight

Journal of Child Neurology ◽

10.1177/08830738211019862 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 088307382110198

Author(s):

Matthew C. Bugada ◽

Julia E. Kline ◽

Nehal A. Parikh

Keyword(s):

Diffusion Tensor Imaging ◽

Birth Weight ◽

Low Birth Weight ◽

Language Development ◽

Fractional Anisotropy ◽

Diffusion Tensor ◽

Structural Mri ◽

Extremely Low Birth Weight ◽

Extremely Preterm ◽

Inferior Longitudinal Fasciculus

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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