title: Delay of cortical thinning in very preterm born children.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Cortical gray matter thinning occurs during childhood due to pruning of inefficient synaptic connections and an increase in myelination. Preterms show alterations in brain structure, with prolonged maturation of the frontal lobes, smaller cortical volumes and reduced white matter volume. These findings give rise to the question if there is a differential influence of age on cortical thinning in preterms compared to controls.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the relationship between age and cortical thinning in school-aged preterms compared to controls.
  
  
  METHODS
  The automated surface reconstruction software FreeSurfer was applied to obtain measurements of cortical thickness based on T1-weighted MRI images.
  
  
  METHODS
  Forty-one preterms (<32weeks gestational age and/or <1500g birth weight) and 30 controls were included in the study (7-12years).
  
  
  RESULTS
  In preterms, age correlated negatively with cortical thickness in right frontal, parietal and inferior temporal regions. Furthermore, young preterms showed a thicker cortex compared to old preterms in bilateral frontal, parietal and temporal regions. In controls, age was not associated with cortical thickness.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In preterms, cortical thinning still seems to occur between the age of 7 and 12years, mainly in frontal and parietal areas whereas in controls, a substantial part of cortical thinning appears to be completed before they reach the age of 7years. These data indicate slower cortical thinning in preterms than in controls.
authors: Division of Neuropediatrics, Development and Rehabilitation, Children's University Hospital, Inselspital, Bern, Switzerland; University Institute of Diagnostic and Interventional Neuroradiology, University Hospital, Inselspital, Bern, Switzerland; Centre for Cognition, Learning and Memory, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland; Institute of Psychology, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland.
authors: Ines
authors: I
authors: Mürner-Lavanchy
authors: Division of Neuropediatrics, Development and Rehabilitation, Children's University Hospital, Inselspital, Bern, Switzerland; Centre for Cognition, Learning and Memory, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland.
authors: Maja
authors: M
authors: Steinlin
authors: Division of Neonatology, Children's University Hospital, Inselspital, Bern, Switzerland.
authors: Mathias
authors: M
authors: Nelle
authors: University Institute of Diagnostic and Interventional Neuroradiology, University Hospital, Inselspital, Bern, Switzerland.
authors: Christian
authors: C
authors: Rummel
authors: Centre for Cognition, Learning and Memory, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland; Institute of Psychology, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland.
authors: Walter J
authors: WJ
authors: Perrig
authors: University Institute of Diagnostic and Interventional Neuroradiology, University Hospital, Inselspital, Bern, Switzerland.
authors: Gerhard
authors: G
authors: Schroth
authors: Division of Neuropediatrics, Development and Rehabilitation, Children's University Hospital, Inselspital, Bern, Switzerland; University Institute of Diagnostic and Interventional Neuroradiology, University Hospital, Inselspital, Bern, Switzerland; Centre for Cognition, Learning and Memory, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland. Electronic address: regula.everts@insel.ch.
authors: Regula
authors: R
authors: Everts
mesh_terms: D002540:Cerebral Cortex / Q000473:pathology*; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007234:Infant, Premature
keywords: Children; Cortical thickness; Delay; Development; Very low birth weight; Very preterm