Long-lasting effects of very preterm birth on brain structure in adulthood: A systematic review and meta-analysis

Claire E Kelly; Michelle Shaul; Deanne K Thompson; Rheanna M Mainzer; Joseph Ym Yang; Thijs Dhollander; Jeanie Ly Cheong; Terrie E Inder; Lex W Doyle; Peter J Anderson

doi:10.1016/j.neubiorev.2023.105082

Long-lasting effects of very preterm birth on brain structure in adulthood: A systematic review and meta-analysis

Neurosci Biobehav Rev. 2023 Apr:147:105082. doi: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2023.105082. Epub 2023 Feb 10.

Authors

Affiliations

¹ Turner Institute for Brain and Mental Health, School of Psychological Sciences, Monash University, Melbourne, Australia; Victorian Infant Brain Studies (VIBeS), Murdoch Children's Research Institute, Melbourne, Australia; Developmental Imaging, Murdoch Children's Research Institute, Melbourne, Australia. Electronic address: [email protected].
² Victorian Infant Brain Studies (VIBeS), Murdoch Children's Research Institute, Melbourne, Australia; Deakin University, Melbourne, Australia.
³ Victorian Infant Brain Studies (VIBeS), Murdoch Children's Research Institute, Melbourne, Australia; Developmental Imaging, Murdoch Children's Research Institute, Melbourne, Australia; Department of Paediatrics, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia.
⁴ Department of Paediatrics, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia; Clinical Epidemiology and Biostatistics Unit, Population Health, Murdoch Children's Research Institute, Melbourne, Australia.
⁵ Developmental Imaging, Murdoch Children's Research Institute, Melbourne, Australia; Department of Paediatrics, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia; Neuroscience Advanced Clinical Imaging Service (NACIS), Department of Neurosurgery, The Royal Children's Hospital, Melbourne, Australia; Neuroscience Research, Murdoch Children's Research Institute, Melbourne, Australia.
⁶ Developmental Imaging, Murdoch Children's Research Institute, Melbourne, Australia.
⁷ Victorian Infant Brain Studies (VIBeS), Murdoch Children's Research Institute, Melbourne, Australia; The Royal Women's Hospital, Melbourne, Australia; Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia.
⁸ Department of Pediatrics, Children's Hospital of Orange County, University of California Irvine, CA, USA.
⁹ Victorian Infant Brain Studies (VIBeS), Murdoch Children's Research Institute, Melbourne, Australia; Department of Paediatrics, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia; The Royal Women's Hospital, Melbourne, Australia; Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia.
¹⁰ Turner Institute for Brain and Mental Health, School of Psychological Sciences, Monash University, Melbourne, Australia; Victorian Infant Brain Studies (VIBeS), Murdoch Children's Research Institute, Melbourne, Australia.

PMID: 36775083
DOI: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2023.105082

Abstract

Early life experiences, such as very preterm (VP) birth, can affect brain and cognitive development. Several prior studies investigated brain structure in adults born VP; synthesising these studies may help to provide a clearer understanding of long-term effects of VP birth on the brain. We systematically searched Medline and Embase for articles that investigated brain structure using MRI in adulthood in individuals born VP (<32 weeks' gestation) or with very low birth weight (VLBW; <1500 g), and controls born at term or with normal birth weight. In total, 77 studies met the review inclusion criteria, of which 28 studies were eligible for meta-analyses, including data from up to 797 VP/VLBW participants and 518 controls, aged 18-33 years. VP/VLBW adults exhibited volumetric, morphologic and microstructural alterations in subcortical and temporal cortical regions compared with controls, with pooled standardised mean differences up to - 1.0 (95% confidence interval: -1.2, -0.8). 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.

Keywords: Brain imaging; Diffusion imaging; Magnetic resonance imaging; Neurodevelopment; Neuroscience; Preterm birth.

Publication types

Meta-Analysis
Systematic Review
Review
Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Adult
Brain / diagnostic imaging
Female
Humans
Infant, Extremely Premature / psychology
Infant, Newborn
Infant, Very Low Birth Weight / psychology
Longitudinal Studies
Premature Birth*