Preterm Neonates Exhibit a “Catch-Up” Pattern in Motor Development During the Neonatal Period: A Diffusion Tensor Imaging Study

IF 3.2 3区医学 Q2 CLINICAL NEUROLOGY

Pediatric neurology Pub Date : 2025-01-07 DOI:10.1016/j.pediatrneurol.2025.01.001

Yuying Feng MM , Yannan Cheng MM , Xianjun Li PhD , Yao Ge MM , Congcong Liu MD , Miaomiao Wang MD , Xiaocheng Wei ME , Xiaoyu Wang MM , Qinli Sun PhD , Jie Zheng MM , Jian Yang PhD , Chao Jin PhD

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引用次数: 0

Abstract

Background

Preterm infants are at high risk for subsequent neurodevelopmental disability. Early developmental characterization of brain and neurobehavioral function is critical for identifying high-risk infants. This study aimed to elucidate the early evolution of sensorimotor function in preterm neonates by exploring postnatal age-related changes in the brain white matter (WM) and neurobehavioral abilities.

Methods

One hundred eighteen neonates without abnormalities on magnetic resonance imaging were included. Diffusion tensor imaging-derived fractional anisotropy (FA) and neonatal neurobehavioral assessment were separately used to characterize the brain WM microstructure and neurobehavioral development levels. Scatterplots with linear fitting and Pearson correlation were used to investigate the relationships of FA and neurobehavioral scores (active tone and behavior scores) with postnatal age separately for preterm and term neonates. Here, the optical radiation (OR), auditory radiation, corticospinal tract (CST), posterior thalamic radiation (PTR), and thalamus-primary somatosensory cortex were selected as the regions of interest (ROIs).

Results

The preterm FAs in the ROIs were lower than term neonates (all Bonferroni-corrected P < 0.001). Preterm CST FA showed a significantly higher correlation with postnatal age (P = 0.042) than term (r = 0.29 vs 0.08), whereas significantly higher correlations were found in term OR (P = 0.018) and PTR (P = 0.002). Similarly, relatively high and low correlations between active tone (r = 0.48 vs 0.35; P = 0.049 for interactions with a postnatal age ≥14 days and preterm/term group status) and behavioral scores (r = 0.36 vs 0.52; P = 0.030 for interactions of postnatal age and preterm/term group status) were observed in preterm infants.

Conclusions

Although delayed, preterm neonates exhibit a “catch-up” pattern in motor development in the newborn stage.

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来源期刊

Pediatric neurology 医学-临床神经学

CiteScore

4.80

自引率

2.60%

发文量

176

审稿时长

78 days

期刊介绍： Pediatric Neurology publishes timely peer-reviewed clinical and research articles covering all aspects of the developing nervous system. Pediatric Neurology features up-to-the-minute publication of the latest advances in the diagnosis, management, and treatment of pediatric neurologic disorders. The journal''s editor, E. Steve Roach, in conjunction with the team of Associate Editors, heads an internationally recognized editorial board, ensuring the most authoritative and extensive coverage of the field. Among the topics covered are: epilepsy, mitochondrial diseases, congenital malformations, chromosomopathies, peripheral neuropathies, perinatal and childhood stroke, cerebral palsy, as well as other diseases affecting the developing nervous system.