Counsell SJ et al. (2008) Specific relations between neurodevelopmental abilities and white matter microstructure in children born preterm. Brain [doi:10.1093/brain/awn268]

Mortality rates of preterm infants have decreased in recent years; however, those who survive preterm birth have a high prevalence of subsequent neurodevelopmental impairment. Counsell et al. investigated the relationship between local, microstructural abnormalities in white matter and neurodevelopmental impairment in 2-year-old children who were born preterm.

In all, 33 children (median corrected age 25.5 months; median gestational age at birth 28 weeks) who had no focal brain abnormalities on conventional MRI underwent diffusion tensor imaging. High fractional anisotropy (FA) values on diffusion tensor imaging reflect an intact tissue microstructure. The children were also assessed by use of the revised Griffiths Mental Development Scales. Results from the neurodevelopmental evaluations significantly correlated with specific imaging findings in the brain. Increased FA values in the isthmus and corpus callosum correlated with increased overall development quotient scores (P <0.01 for both). Likewise, subscores for performance were positively associated with FA values in the corpus callosum (P <0.01), and eye–hand coordination was positively associated with FA values in the corpus callosum, cingulum, fornix, anterior commissure and right uncinate fasciculus (P <0.01 for all). These areas are associated with attention, executive function and working memory; therefore, the findings suggest that many children born preterm might have difficulties with information processing and decision making, particularly with regard to performance and execution of actions.

The authors suggest that FA measurements might provide additional prognostic information for preterm infants and might be a useful biomarker for further studies in this setting.