Abstract #4106

Neonatal whole brain volume and microstructure in infants born preterm and neurodevelopmental outcomes at 2 years of age

Claire E Kelly¹, Jeanie LY Cheong^1,2,3, Alicia J Spittle^1,2,4, Jian Chen^1,5, Marc L Seal^1,6, Peter J Anderson^1,6, Lex W Doyle^1,2,3,6, and Deanne K Thompson^1,6,7

¹Murdoch Childrens Research Institute, Melbourne, Australia, ²Newborn research, Royal Women’s Hospital, Melbourne, Australia, ³Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia, ⁴Department of Physiotherapy, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia, ⁵Department of Medicine, Monash Medical Centre, Monash Univeristy, Melbourne, Australia, ⁶Department of Paediatrics, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia, ⁷Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health, Melbourne, Australia

Infants born preterm are at risk of neurodevelopmental delays in childhood, and MRI may improve knowledge of underlying cerebral changes. Relationships were investigated between whole brain volumes and microstructure in 256 preterm infants and neurodevelopmental outcomes at age 2 years using voxel-based morphometry and tract-based spatial statistics. Lower grey and white matter volumes and altered white matter microstructure were associated with poorer outcomes. In general, relatively widespread brain regions were associated with cognition, more central regions with cerebral palsy, and more peripheral regions with language. This study provides further understanding of how brain structure in preterm infants is related to longer-term outcomes.

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