Grant: CIHR Fellowship

Recent advancements in neonatal and perinatal care have had a significant impact in reducing the infant mortality rates related to preterm birth (less than 37 gestational weeks). However, the last few weeks of pregnancy are particularly important for the development of the child's central nervous system and long-term consequences of premature birth on cognitive, language and attentional development are significant. Despite recent advances in brain imaging technologies, few studies have examined the neuroanatomical correlates underlying these deficits, particularly regarding the development of subcortical structures and integrity of cortical and subcortical neural networks involved in language and attention processing in these children. This study aims to examine the cortical and subcortical anatomical differences between preterm and full-term newborn infants using cerebral magnetic resonance and diffusion imaging (MRI-DTI). We will apply innovative algorithms and morphometric measurement methods to analyze the surface, volume, pose and connectivity of different structures involved in the cortical and subcortical networks responsible for language and attentional processing in infants. Moreover, the correlation between neuroanatomical abnormalities and each child's neurodevelopmental results at the age of 12 and 18 months will allow identify biomarkers of cognitive and language development in prematurely born infants. A better understanding of structural brain abnormalities in preterm infants will help clarify the underlying pathophysiology of prematurity and identify early risk factors for cognitive, language and attentional impairments in these children. Ultimately, the expected results of this proposal will allow for better early referrals to specialists and to develop early intervention programs tailored to these children.