White matter and cognition in adults who were born preterm

Matthew P G Allin, Dimitris Kontis, Muriel Walshe, John Wyatt, Gareth J Barker, Richard A A Kanaan, Philip McGuire, Larry Rifkin, Robin M Murray, Chiara Nosarti, Matthew P G Allin, Dimitris Kontis, Muriel Walshe, John Wyatt, Gareth J Barker, Richard A A Kanaan, Philip McGuire, Larry Rifkin, Robin M Murray, Chiara Nosarti

Abstract

Background and purpose: Individuals born very preterm (before 33 weeks of gestation, VPT) are at risk of damage to developing white matter, which may affect later cognition and behaviour.

Methods: We used diffusion tensor MRI (DT-MRI) to assess white matter microstructure (fractional anisotropy; FA) in 80 VPT and 41 term-born individuals (mean age 19.1 years, range 17-22, and 18.5 years, range 17-22 years, respectively). VPT individuals were part of a 1982-1984 birth cohort which had been followed up since birth; term individuals were recruited by local press advertisement. General intellectual function, executive function and memory were assessed.

Results: The VPT group had reduced FA in four clusters, and increased FA in four clusters relative to the Term group, involving several association tracts of both hemispheres. Clusters of increased FA were associated with more severe neonatal brain injury in the VPT group. Clusters of reduced FA were associated with lower birth weight and perinatal hypoxia, and with reduced adult cognitive performance in the VPT group only.

Conclusions: Alterations of white matter microstructure persist into adulthood in VPT individuals and are associated with cognitive function.

Conflict of interest statement

Competing Interests: The authors have declared that no competing interests exist.

Figures

Figure 1. Group differences in FA, displayed…
Figure 1. Group differences in FA, displayed on a white matter template.
Group differences in fractional anisotropy, displayed on representative white matter template using MRIcro (http://www.cabiatl.com/mricro/). One sagittal and one coronal view is displayed for each cluster showing significant group differences. Cluster numbers refer to Table 1, where MNI coordinates and tract identification are given.

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