Longitudinal Study of White Matter Development and Outcomes in Children Born Very Preterm.
Identifying trajectories of early white matter development is important for understanding atypical brain development and impaired functional outcomes in children born very preterm (<32 weeks gestational age [GA]). In this study, 161 diffusion images were acquired in children born very preterm (median GA: 29 weeks) shortly following birth (75), term-equivalent (39), 2 years (18), and 4 years of age (29). Diffusion tensors were computed to obtain measures of fractional anisotropy (FA), mean diffusivity (MD), axial diffusivity (AD), and radial diffusivity (RD), which were aligned and averaged. A paediatric atlas was applied to obtain diffusion metrics within 12 white matter tracts. Developmental trajectories across time points demonstrated age-related changes which plateaued between term-equivalent and 2 years of age in the majority of posterior tracts and between 2 and 4 years of age in anterior tracts. Between preterm and term-equivalent scans, FA rates of change were slower in anterior than posterior tracts. Partial least squares analyses revealed associations between slower MD and RD rates of change within the external and internal capsule with lower intelligence quotients and language scores at 4 years of age. These results uniquely demonstrate early white matter development and its linkage to cognitive functions.
1 Department of Diagnostic Imaging, Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Ontario, Canada M5G 1X8.|Program in Neurosciences & Mental Health, Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Ontario, Canada   M5G 1X8.|Department of Psychology, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
Julia M
JM
Young
1Department of Diagnostic Imaging, Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Ontario, Canada M5G 1X8.
Benjamin R
BR
Morgan
Program in Neurosciences & Mental Health, Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Ontario, Canada   M5G 1X8.|Department of Neonatology, Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Ontario, Canada M5G 1X8.
Hilary E A
HEA
Whyte
1Department of Diagnostic Imaging, Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Ontario, Canada M5G 1X8.
Wayne
W
Lee
Program in Neurosciences & Mental Health, Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Ontario, Canada   M5G 1X8.|Department of Psychology, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.|Department of Psychology, Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Ontario, Canada M5G 1X8.
Mary Lou
ML
Smith
1 Department of Diagnostic Imaging, Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Ontario, Canada M5G 1X8.|Department of Medical Imaging, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
Charles
C
Raybaud
1 Department of Diagnostic Imaging, Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Ontario, Canada M5G 1X8.|Department of Medical Imaging, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
Manohar M
MM
Shroff
Program in Physiology and Experimental Medicine, Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Ontario, Canada M5G 1X8.|Department of Medical Biophysics, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
John G
JG
Sled
1 Department of Diagnostic Imaging, Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Ontario, Canada M5G 1X8.|Program in Neurosciences & Mental Health, Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Ontario, Canada   M5G 1X8.|Department of Psychology, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.|Department of Medical Imaging, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
Margot J
MJ
Taylor
D001271:Atlases as Topic; D001921:Brain / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000254:growth & development*; D002675:Child, Preschool; D038524:Diffusion Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D056324:Diffusion Tensor Imaging; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D062071:Infant, Extremely Premature / Q000254:growth & development*; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007360:Intelligence; D007802:Language; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D012737:Sex Factors; D066127:White Matter / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000254:growth & development*
development; magnetic resonance imaging; outcomes; preterm; white matter