TY - JOUR
T1 - Consistently lower volumes across thalamus nuclei in very premature-born adults
AU - Thalhammer, Melissa
AU - Nimpal, Mehul
AU - Schulz, Julia
AU - Meedt, Veronica
AU - Menegaux, Aurore
AU - Schmitz-Koep, Benita
AU - Daamen, Marcel
AU - Boecker, Henning
AU - Zimmer, Claus
AU - Priller, Josef
AU - Wolke, Dieter
AU - Bartmann, Peter
AU - Hedderich, Dennis
AU - Sorg, Christian
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© 2024
PY - 2024/8/15
Y1 - 2024/8/15
N2 - Lasting thalamus volume reduction after preterm birth is a prominent finding. However, whether thalamic nuclei volumes are affected differentially by preterm birth and whether nuclei aberrations are relevant for cognitive functioning remains unknown. Using T1-weighted MR-images of 83 adults born very preterm (≤ 32 weeks’ gestation; VP) and/or with very low body weight (≤ 1,500 g; VLBW) as well as of 92 full-term born (≥ 37 weeks’ gestation) controls, we compared thalamic nuclei volumes of six subregions (anterior, lateral, ventral, intralaminar, medial, and pulvinar) across groups at the age of 26 years. To characterize the functional relevance of volume aberrations, cognitive performance was assessed by full-scale intelligence quotient using the Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale and linked to volume reductions using multiple linear regression analyses. Thalamic volumes were significantly lower across all examined nuclei in VP/VLBW adults compared to controls, suggesting an overall rather than focal impairment. Lower nuclei volumes were linked to higher intensity of neonatal treatment, indicating vulnerability to stress exposure after birth. Furthermore, we found that single results for lateral, medial, and pulvinar nuclei volumes were associated with full-scale intelligence quotient in preterm adults, albeit not surviving correction for multiple hypotheses testing. These findings provide evidence that lower thalamic volume in preterm adults is observable across all subregions rather than focused on single nuclei. Data suggest the same mechanisms of aberrant thalamus development across all nuclei after premature birth.
AB - Lasting thalamus volume reduction after preterm birth is a prominent finding. However, whether thalamic nuclei volumes are affected differentially by preterm birth and whether nuclei aberrations are relevant for cognitive functioning remains unknown. Using T1-weighted MR-images of 83 adults born very preterm (≤ 32 weeks’ gestation; VP) and/or with very low body weight (≤ 1,500 g; VLBW) as well as of 92 full-term born (≥ 37 weeks’ gestation) controls, we compared thalamic nuclei volumes of six subregions (anterior, lateral, ventral, intralaminar, medial, and pulvinar) across groups at the age of 26 years. To characterize the functional relevance of volume aberrations, cognitive performance was assessed by full-scale intelligence quotient using the Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale and linked to volume reductions using multiple linear regression analyses. Thalamic volumes were significantly lower across all examined nuclei in VP/VLBW adults compared to controls, suggesting an overall rather than focal impairment. Lower nuclei volumes were linked to higher intensity of neonatal treatment, indicating vulnerability to stress exposure after birth. Furthermore, we found that single results for lateral, medial, and pulvinar nuclei volumes were associated with full-scale intelligence quotient in preterm adults, albeit not surviving correction for multiple hypotheses testing. These findings provide evidence that lower thalamic volume in preterm adults is observable across all subregions rather than focused on single nuclei. Data suggest the same mechanisms of aberrant thalamus development across all nuclei after premature birth.
KW - Brain development
KW - Intelligence quotient
KW - Intensity of neonatal treatment
KW - Preterm birth
KW - Structural magnetic resonance imaging
KW - Thalamus nuclei
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85198400969&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1016/j.neuroimage.2024.120732
DO - 10.1016/j.neuroimage.2024.120732
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:85198400969
SN - 1053-8119
VL - 297
JO - NeuroImage
JF - NeuroImage
M1 - 120732
ER -