An analysis of MRI derived cortical complexity in premature-born adults: Regional patterns, risk factors, and potential significance

Publication date: Available online 4 December 2019Source: NeuroImageAuthor(s): Dennis M. Hedderich, Josef G. Bäuml, Aurore Menegaux, Mihai Avram, Marcel Daamen, Claus Zimmer, Peter Bartmann, Lukas Scheef, Henning Boecker, Dieter Wolke, Christian Gaser, Christian SorgAbstractPremature birth bears an increased risk for aberrant brain development concerning its structure and function. Cortical complexity (CC) expresses the fractal dimension of the brain surface and changes during neurodevelopment. We hypothesized that CC is altered after premature birth and associated with long-term cognitive development.One-hundred-and-one very premature-born adults (gestational age <32 weeks and/or birth weight <1500 g) and 111 term-born adults were assessed by structural MRI and cognitive testing at 27 years of age. CC was measured based on MRI by vertex-wise estimation of fractal dimension. Cognitive performance was measured based on Griffiths-Mental-Development-Scale (at 20 months) and Wechsler-Adult-Intelligence-Scales (at 27 years).In premature-born adults, CC was decreased bilaterally in large lateral temporal and medial parietal clusters. Decreased CC was associated with lower gestational age and birth weight. Furthermore, decreased CC in the medial parietal cortices was linked with reduced full-scale IQ of premature-born adults and mediated the association between cognitive development at 20 months and IQ in adulthood.Results demonstrate that CC is reduced in very premature-...
Source: NeuroImage - Category: Neuroscience Source Type: research