title: Extensive and interrelated subcortical white and gray matter alterations in preterm-born adults.
abstract: Preterm birth is a leading cause for impaired neurocognitive development with an increased risk for persistent cognitive deficits in adulthood. In newborns, preterm birth is associated with interrelated white matter (WM) alterations and deep gray matter (GM) loss; however, little is known about the persistence and relevance of these subcortical brain changes. We tested the hypothesis that the pattern of correspondent subcortical WM and GM changes is present in preterm-born adults and has a brain-injury-like nature, i.e., it predicts lowered general cognitive performance. Eighty-five preterm-born and 69 matched term-born adults were assessed by diffusion- and T1-weighted MRI and cognitive testing. Main outcome measures were fractional anisotropy of water diffusion for WM property, GM volume for GM property, and full-scale IQ for cognitive performance. In preterm-born adults, reduced fractional anisotropy was widely distributed ranging from cerebellum to brainstem to hemispheres. GM volume was reduced in the thalamus, striatum, temporal cortices, and increased in the cingulate cortices. Fractional anisotropy reductions were specifically associated with GM loss in thalamus and striatum, with correlation patterns for both regions extensively overlapping in the WM of brainstem and hemispheres. For overlap regions, fractional anisotropy was positively related with both gestational age and full-scale IQ. Results provide evidence for extensive, interrelated, and adverse WM and GM subcortical changes in preterm-born adults. Data suggest persistent brain-injury-like changes of subcortical-cortical connectivity after preterm delivery.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neuroradiology, Technische Universität München TUM, Ismaninger Strasse 22, 81675, Munich, Germany.|TUM-Neuroimaging Center of Klinikum rechts der Isar, Technische Universität München TUM, Ismaninger Strasse 22, 81675, Munich, Germany.|Graduate School of Systemic Neurosciences GSN, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität, Biocenter, Großhaderner Strasse 2, 82152, Munich, Germany.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Meng
authors.affiliation: Department of Neuroradiology, Technische Universität München TUM, Ismaninger Strasse 22, 81675, Munich, Germany.|TUM-Neuroimaging Center of Klinikum rechts der Isar, Technische Universität München TUM, Ismaninger Strasse 22, 81675, Munich, Germany.
authors.forename: J G
authors.initials: JG
authors.lastname: Bäuml
authors.affiliation: Functional Neuroimaging Group, Department of Radiology, University Hospital Bonn, Bonn, Germany.|Department of Neonatology, University Hospital Bonn, Bonn, Germany.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Daamen
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, University of Warwick, Coventry, UK.|Department of Developmental Psychology, Ruhr-University Bochum, Bochum, Germany.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Jaekel
authors.affiliation: Department of Neuroradiology, Technische Universität München TUM, Ismaninger Strasse 22, 81675, Munich, Germany.|TUM-Neuroimaging Center of Klinikum rechts der Isar, Technische Universität München TUM, Ismaninger Strasse 22, 81675, Munich, Germany.|Graduate School of Systemic Neurosciences GSN, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität, Biocenter, Großhaderner Strasse 2, 82152, Munich, Germany.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Neitzel
authors.affiliation: Functional Neuroimaging Group, Department of Radiology, University Hospital Bonn, Bonn, Germany.
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Scheef
authors.affiliation: Department of Neonatology, University Hospital Bonn, Bonn, Germany.
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Busch
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, University of Warwick, Coventry, UK.
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Baumann
authors.affiliation: Functional Neuroimaging Group, Department of Radiology, University Hospital Bonn, Bonn, Germany.
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Boecker
authors.affiliation: Department of Neuroradiology, Technische Universität München TUM, Ismaninger Strasse 22, 81675, Munich, Germany.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Zimmer
authors.affiliation: Department of Neonatology, University Hospital Bonn, Bonn, Germany.
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Bartmann
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, University of Warwick, Coventry, UK.|Warwick Medical School, University of Warwick, Coventry, UK.
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Wolke
authors.affiliation: Department of Neuroradiology, Technische Universität München TUM, Ismaninger Strasse 22, 81675, Munich, Germany.|Department of Neurology, Technische Universität München TUM, Ismaninger Strasse 22, 81675, Munich, Germany.|TUM-Neuroimaging Center of Klinikum rechts der Isar, Technische Universität München TUM, Ismaninger Strasse 22, 81675, Munich, Germany.|Graduate School of Systemic Neurosciences GSN, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität, Biocenter, Großhaderner Strasse 2, 82152, Munich, Germany.
authors.forename: A M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Wohlschläger
authors.affiliation: Department of Neuroradiology, Technische Universität München TUM, Ismaninger Strasse 22, 81675, Munich, Germany. c.sorg@lrz.tu-muenchen.de.|Department of Psychiatry, Technische Universität München TUM, Ismaninger Strasse 22, 81675, Munich, Germany. c.sorg@lrz.tu-muenchen.de.|TUM-Neuroimaging Center of Klinikum rechts der Isar, Technische Universität München TUM, Ismaninger Strasse 22, 81675, Munich, Germany. c.sorg@lrz.tu-muenchen.de.
authors.forename: Christian
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Sorg
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D016880:Anisotropy; D001921:Brain / Q000473:pathology*; D038524:Diffusion Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D005260:Female; D005865:Gestational Age; D066128:Gray Matter / Q000473:pathology*; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007234:Infant, Premature / Q000254:growth & development / Q000523:psychology; D008297:Male; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D066127:White Matter / Q000473:pathology*; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Diffusion MRI; Gray matter; IQ; Preterm-born adults; Voxel-based morphometry; White matter