Work

Early Life Neurodevelopment of Infants Across a Wide Gestational Age Range

Year: 2025

Type: article

Abstract: OBJECTIVE: Neural development differs between in-utero and ex-utero environments. Length of gestational age (GA) is associated with brain development and early life neurodevelopmental outcomes, affecting both preterm and term infants. This study aimed to examine a wide range of GA and provide a more comprehensive understanding of its effects on various developmental domains. METHOD: Four hundred fifty-four infants who were born at 24 to 41 weeks of GA were included in this analysis. Cognitive, language, and motor development between 8 and 30 months of age were assessed using the Bayley Scales of Infant and Toddler Development, Third Edition (Bayley-III). Associations between GA and outcomes were analyzed using linear and logistic mixed-effects models. RESULTS: GA was positively associated with all examined developmental domains with a small-sized effect (Pearson's correlation coefficients: 0.08-0.15; p < 0.05). After adjusting for covariates, linear mixed-effect models estimated that each additional week of GA was associated with an increase in Bayley III composite scores: cognitive (0.6 points), language (0.6 points), and motor (0.62 points). Logistic mixed-effect models showed that after adjusting for the covariates, each additional week of GA reduced the adjusted odds ratio of delay in 1 of the language subdomains (i.e., receptive communication) by 13%. CONCLUSION: We found a small impact of GA on cognitive, language, and motor development across a wide range of GA. Language and its subdomains seem particularly sensitive to the effects of prematurity. Thus, regular monitoring and parent-based early intervention, especially in the language domain, are warranted for early-term and preterm infants.

Source: Journal of Developmental & Behavioral Pediatrics

DOI: 10.1097/dbp.0000000000001411

Authors: Peggy H. Y. Chan, C. M. Lai, H. S. Lam, Patrick C. M. Wong

Institution: Chinese University of Hong Kong

Language: English

Topic: Infant Development and Preterm Care

Subfield: Pediatrics, Perinatology and Child Health

Field: Medicine

Domain: Health Sciences

SDG: Good health and well-being

Open Access status: hybrid

Funder: Hong Kong Government