Grant: Project Grant

Babies born too early (preterm) are at high risk of developmental problems. More than 80% of them are born within the age range of 32-36 weeks gestation, and are called moderate-late preterm (MLP) babies. In Canada, over 24,500 babies are born MLP each year. Many have neurodevelopmental problems, and caring for them costs more than for other preterm babies born even younger, e.g. very preterm babies. The first 3 months of life is the fastest period of time for brain growth, with a steep increase in volume and connections between different brain regions. Healthy brain growth is important to motor, cognitive and language functions, yet the preterm baby's brain is more likely to have injury and be affected by different factors. In very preterm babies, brain injury, poor nutrition, and breathing problems relate to slower brain growth and worse motor and cognitive functions. Family background makes a difference in their outcomes. We recently discovered that brain injury in MLP babies is also common. Yet, we do not know if nutrition, breathing control, brain injury, and family background relate to brain growth in the first 3 months in MLP babies, and how they relate to later outcomes. Given these gaps in our understanding, we propose to study a group of MLP babies in Toronto and Vancouver using MRI and other detailed measures to capture early brain growth from birth to 3 months, newborn brain injury, clinical and family factors, and later motor, cognitive and language outcomes at 18 months. By studying MLP babies from birth to 18 months, we will find out: 1.the rate, size and location of newborn brain injury, brain growth in the first 3 months, and how they are related 2.if poorer nutrition and longer breathing support relate to larger brain injury and poorer brain growth 3.if a) poorer early brain growth relates to lower motor, cognitive, and language skills at 18 months and b) family background makes developmental function relates to brain growth in different ways