Neuroimaging and Neuropsychological Outcomes Spanning from 0 to 27 years in Individuals Born Very Preterm

Project Abstract Very preterm birth (VP; 32 weeks) affects more than 50,000 infants annually in the United States alone and is strongly associated with an increased risk for subsequent adverse cognitive, motor and behavioral outcomes. Detailed longitudinal studies of the long-term impact of VP birth on neurological outcomes into adulthood are needed to fully define the neurological impact alongside insights for subsequent aging. The Victorian Infant Brain Study (VIBeS) presents an opportunity to examine the trajectory of brain development into early adulthood, including defining deviations, in 224 individuals born VP and 77 individuals born full-term. These individuals have previously undergone brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) at term equivalent age, 7 and 13 years, alongside detailed neurodevelopmental and socio-environmental assessments at 2, 5, 7 and 13 years. We now propose a 20 and 27-year follow-up, timepoints selected to capture the early adulthood period, with future follow-ups planned into later adulthood. For the first time, we will describe structural brain trajectories from birth to early adulthood in individuals born VP and relate these trajectories to key cognitive outcomes including language, executive function and memory. We will also compare cerebral blood flow in VP and term individuals at age 20 and 27 years, examining the relationship between cerebral blood flow, brain structure and cognitive functioning. This study will fill a gap in knowledge related to VP birth by defining the trajectories, including factors that may influence deviations such as socio-environmental factors, from typical maturation from birth to early adulthood. This knowledge will lay the foundation for investigating brain reserve and markers of vulnerability for cognitive functioning through adulthood following VP birth.