title: Maternal Postsecondary Education Associated With Improved Cerebellar Growth After Preterm Birth.
abstract: The preterm cerebellum is vulnerable to impaired development impacting long-term outcome. Preterm newborns (<32 weeks) underwent serial magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans. The association between parental education and cerebellar volume at each time point was assessed, adjusting for age at scan. In 26 infants, cerebellar volumes at term (P = .001), but not birth (P = .4), were associated with 2-year volumes. For 1 cm(3) smaller cerebellar volume (4% total volume) at term, the cerebellum was 3.18 cm(3) smaller (3% total volume) by 2 years. Maternal postsecondary education was not associated with cerebellar volume at term (P = .16). Maternal postsecondary education was a significant confounder in the relationship between term and 2-year cerebellar volumes (P = .016), with higher education associated with improved volumes by 2 years. Although preterm birth has been found to be associated with smaller cerebellar volumes at term, maternal postsecondary education is associated with improved growth detectable by 2 years.
authors.affiliation: Division of Neurology, Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Ontario, Canada Department of Psychology and Collaborative Neuroscience Program, University of Guelph, Guelph, Ontario, Canada.
authors.forename: Mikaela L
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Stiver
authors.affiliation: Division of Neurology, Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
authors.forename: Daphne
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Kamino
authors.affiliation: Division of Neurology, Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
authors.forename: Ting
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Guo
authors.affiliation: Division of Neurology, Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
authors.forename: Angela
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Thompson
authors.affiliation: Division of Neurology, Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
authors.forename: Emma G
authors.initials: EG
authors.lastname: Duerden
authors.affiliation: Department of Diagnostic Imaging, Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Ontario, Canada Department of Psychology, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
authors.forename: Margot J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Taylor
authors.affiliation: Division of Neurology, Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Ontario, Canada Department of Pediatrics, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada emily.tam@utoronto.ca.
authors.forename: Emily W Y
authors.initials: EW
authors.lastname: Tam
mesh_terms: D002531:Cerebellum / Q000033:anatomy & histology* / Q000254:growth & development*; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004522:Educational Status; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007234:Infant, Premature / Q000254:growth & development*; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D009035:Mothers / Q000193:education*; D009929:Organ Size; D014495:Universities
keywords: brain development; cerebellar hypoplasia; magnetic resonance imaging (MRI); prematurity; socioeconomic status