Neuro-cognitive performances of very preterm or very low birth weight adults at 26 years
This study concluded that the neuro-cognitive difficulties that the adults born prematurely were experiencing continued into adult life despite additional educational support in childhood. Click to see the abstract.
Madzwamuse, S.E, Baumann, N., Jaekel, J., Bartmann, P., Wolke, D. (2014) Neuro-cognitive performances of very preterm or very low birth weight adults at 26 years. Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiarty. 56:8 p857-864
Autonomic nervous system(ANS) The part of the nervous system responsible for control of the bodily functions not consciously directed, such as breathing, the heartbeat, and digestive processes. More development and its impact on neuropsychiatric outcome
This paper highlights that stress around the time of birth, including prematurityPreterm is defined as babies born alive before 37 weeks of pregnancy are completed. More, may cause the autonomic nervous system(ANS) The part of the nervous system responsible for control of the bodily functions not consciously directed, such as breathing, the heartbeat, and digestive processes. More (ANS) to undergo ‘dysmaturation’. During early childhood development, connections are formed between the ANS and the limbic system in the brain which influence our psychological and physiological responses. Therefore the Polyvagal Theory describes how changes within the ANS and vagal tone can have an impact upon social responses and neuropsychiatric disorders. Click here to read the article.
Mulkey, S., du Plessis, A., (2018) Autonomic nervous system development and its impact on neuropsychiatric outcome. Pediatric Research, 85(120-126)
Increased Brain Age Gap Estimate (BrainAGE) in Young Adults After Premature Birth
This study follow preemies up to the age of 26 years and utilised an abbreviated version of the German Wechsler Adults Intelligence Scalehas. They concluded that their results demonstrate elevated BrainAGE in premature-born adults, suggesting an increased risk for accelerated brain ageing in human prematurityPreterm is defined as babies born alive before 37 weeks of pregnancy are completed. More. Click here to read the article.
Hedderich, D., Menegaux, A., et al. (2021) Increased Brain Age Gap Estimate (BrainAGE) in Young Adults After Premature Birth. Frontiers in Aging Neuroscience
Adult outcome of preterm birth: Implications for neurodevelopmental theories of psychosis
In this paper the team have evaluated the implications of neurodevelopmental, cognitive, motor, and social sequelae of preterm birth for developing psychosis, with an emphasis on outcomes observed in adulthood. They have found that abnormal brain development precipitated by early exposure to the extra-uterine environment, and exacerbated by neuroinflammation, neonatal brain injury, and genetic vulnerability, can result in alterations of brain structure and function persisting into adulthood. Click here to read the article.
Vanes, L., Murray, R., and Nosarti, C. (2021) Adult outcome of preterm birth: Implications for neurodevelopmental theories of psychosis. Schizophrenia Research
Altered Cortical Gyrification in Adults Who Were Born Very Preterm and Its Associations With Cognition and Mental Health
This study used MRI scans to look at local gyrification index (brain folding) and found that very preterm adults’ brains are characterized by significant and widespread local hypogyria (reduced folding), and these alterations might be implicated in cognitive and psychiatric outcomes. Gyrification reflects an early developmental process and provides a fingerprint for very preterm birth. Click here to read the abstract.
Papini C., Palaniyappan, L., Kroll J., et al., 2020. Altered Cortical Gyrification in Adults Who Were Born Very Preterm and Its Associations With Cognition and Mental Health. Biological Psychiatry, 5(7) pg 640-650
Growth after late-preterm birth and adult cognitive, academic, and mental health outcomes
This paper has found that faster growth during the critical early period after late-preterm birth is associated with better adult neurocognitive functioning, but not consistently with mental health outcomes. Click here to read the full paper.
Sammallhti, S., Heinonen, K., Andersson, S., et al., 2017. Growth after late-preterm birth and adult cognitive, academic, and mental health outcomes. Pediatric Research, 81, pg 767-774
Long-lasting effects of very preterm birth on brain structure in adulthood: A systematic review and meta-analysis.
This paper conducted a systematic review and concluded that early life experiences, such as very preterm (VP) birth, can affect brain and cognitive development. They highlight that very preterm and very low birth weight adults exhibited volume, structure and microstructural alterations in the brain. This study suggests there is a persisting neurological impact of VP birth, which may provide developmental neurobiological insights for adult cognition in high-risk populations. Click here to read the full paper.
Kelly, C., Shaul, M., Thompson, D., Mainzer, R., Yang, J., Dhollander, T., Cheong, J., Inder, T., Doyle, L., and Anderson, P., 2023. Long-lasting effects of very preterm birth on brain structure in adulthood: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Neuroscience and biobehavioral reviews, (147), pg 105082
ADHDAttention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a condition that affects people's behaviour. People with ADHD can seem restless, may have trouble concentrating and may act on impulse. More symptoms and diagnosis in adult preterms: systematic review, IPD meta-analysis, and register-linkage study.
This study discussed differences between current research. They concluded that preterm-born adults may not self-report increased ADHDAttention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a condition that affects people's behaviour. People with ADHD can seem restless, may have trouble concentrating and may act on impulse. More symptoms, however, they have a higher risk of ADHDAttention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a condition that affects people's behaviour. People with ADHD can seem restless, may have trouble concentrating and may act on impulse. More diagnosis, warranting preventive strategies and interventions to reduce the presentation of more severe ADHDAttention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a condition that affects people's behaviour. People with ADHD can seem restless, may have trouble concentrating and may act on impulse. More symptoms in adulthood. Click here to read the full article.
Robinson, R., Girchenko, P., Pulakka, A., Heinonen, K., Lähdepuro, A., Lahti-Pulkkinen, M., Hovi, P., Tikanmäki, M., Bartmann, P., Lano, A., Doyle, L., Anderson, P., Cheong, J., Darlow, B., Woodward, L., Horwood, L., Indredavik, M., Evensen, K., Marlow, N., Johnson, S., de Mendonca, M., Kajantie, E., Wolke, D. and Räikkönen, K., 2023. ADHDAttention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a condition that affects people's behaviour. People with ADHD can seem restless, may have trouble concentrating and may act on impulse. More symptoms and diagnosis in adult preterms: systematic review, IPD meta-analysis, and register-linkage study, Pediatric Research, 93(5), pg. 1399–1409