title: Brain volume reductions within multiple cognitive systems in male preterm children at age twelve.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To more precisely examine regional and subregional microstructural brain changes associated with preterm birth.
  
  
  METHODS
  We obtained brain volumes from 29 preterm children, age 12 years, with no ultrasound scanning evidence of intraventricular hemorrhage or cystic periventricular leukomalacia in the newborn period, and 22 age- and sex-matched term control subjects.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Preterm male subjects demonstrated significantly lower white matter volumes in bilateral cingulum, corpus callosum, corticospinal tract, prefrontal cortex, superior and inferior longitudinal fasciculi compared with term male subjects. Gray matter volumes in prefrontal cortex, basal ganglia, and temporal lobe also were significantly reduced in preterm male subjects. Brain volumes of preterm female subjects were not significantly different from those of term female control subjects. Voxel-based morphometry results were not correlated with perinatal variables or cognitive outcome. Higher maternal education was associated with higher cognitive performance in preterm male subjects.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Preterm male children continue to demonstrate abnormal neurodevelopment at 12 years of age. However, brain morphology in preterm female children may no longer differ from that of term female children. The neurodevelopmental abnormalities we detected in preterm male subjects appear to be relatively diffuse, involving multiple neural systems. The relationship between aberrant neurodevelopment and perinatal variables may be mediated by genetic factors, environmental factors, or both reflected in maternal education level.
authors.affiliation: Center for Interdisciplinary Brain Sciences Research, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA 94305-5795, USA. skesler@stanford.edu
authors.forename: Shelli R
authors.initials: SR
authors.lastname: Kesler
authors.forename: Allan L
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: Reiss
authors.forename: Betty
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Vohr
authors.forename: Christa
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Watson
authors.forename: Karen C
authors.initials: KC
authors.lastname: Schneider
authors.forename: Karol H
authors.initials: KH
authors.lastname: Katz
authors.forename: Jill
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Maller-Kesselman
authors.forename: John
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Silbereis
authors.forename: R Todd
authors.initials: RT
authors.lastname: Constable
authors.forename: Robert W
authors.initials: RW
authors.lastname: Makuch
authors.forename: Laura R
authors.initials: LR
authors.lastname: Ment
mesh_terms: D001724:Birth Weight; D001921:Brain / Q000033:anatomy & histology* / Q000254:growth & development; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002543:Cerebral Hemorrhage / Q000517:prevention & control; D002648:Child; D003072:Cognition Disorders; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005865:Gestational Age; D006801:Humans; D007213:Indomethacin / Q000627:therapeutic use; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007234:Infant, Premature; D007360:Intelligence; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D009929:Organ Size; D012044:Regression Analysis; D012737:Sex Factors
chemical_list: D007213:Indomethacin