Effects of very low birthweight on brain structure in adulthood.

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Authors

Allin, Matthew
Henderson, Max
Suckling, John
Nosarti, Chiara
Rushe, Teresa
Fearon, Paul
Stewart, Ann L
Bullmore, E T
Rifkin, Larry
Murray, Robin

Issue Date

2004-Jan

Type

Journal Article
Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

Language

en

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Abstract

Very-low-birthweight (VLBW) individuals are at high risk of brain injury in the perinatal period. We wished to determine how such early brain lesions affect brain structure in adulthood. Thirty-two VLBW adults (20 female, 12 male) and 18 term, normal birthweight sibling control individuals (nine female, nine male) underwent structural MRI at a mean age of 23 years 4 months (range 17 to 33 years; SD 3.4). Images were analyzed using an automated tissue segmentation algorithm in order to estimate whole brain tissue class volumes in native space. Images were then warped to a template image in standard space. There was no significant between-group difference in whole brain, grey matter, white matter, or total cerebral spinal fluid (CSF) volumes. However, lateral ventricular volume was significantly increased by 41% in those with VLBW. The ratio of grey to white matter was also significantly increased (by 10%) in those with VLBW. Group comparison maps showed widespread changes in the distribution of grey and white matter, and relative excess of ventricular CSF, in the brains of VLBW individuals. Increased ventricular volume predicted decreased grey matter in subcortical nuclei and limbic cortical structures, and decreased periventricular white matter. We conclude that these diffuse abnormalities of grey and white matter are a consequence of the interaction of perinatal brain injury and ongoing neurodevelopmental processes.

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Citation

Allin, M., Henderson, M., Suckling, J., Nosarti, C., Rushe, T., Fearon, P., Stewart, A. L., Bullmore, E. T., Rifkin, L., & Murray, R. (2004). Effects of very low birthweight on brain structure in adulthood. Developmental medicine and child neurology, 46(1), 46–53. https://doi.org/10.1017/s0012162204000088

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Journal

Developmental medicine and child neurology

Volume

46

Issue

1

URI

https://repository.stpatricks.ie/handle/internal/357

PubMed ID

14974647

DOI

10.1017/s0012162204000088

ISSN

0012-1622

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