Live Eikenes1,
Gro Lhaugen2, Kjerstin Bjrlykke2, Ann-Mari Brubakk2,
Jon Skranes2, Asta Hberg3
1Department of circulation and medical
imaging, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Trondheim, Norway; 2Department
of Laboratory Medicine, Children's and Women's Health, Norwegian University
of Science and Technology, Trondheim, Norway; 3Department of
Neuroscience, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Trondheim,
Norway
Perinatal
brain injury caused by very preterm birth with very low birth weight (VLBW, ≤
1500 g) is associated with changes in white matter integrity and
connectivity, and to a variety of neurodevelopmental problems including
cognitive impairments and visual perceptual deficits in childhood and adolescence.
Widespread correlations between fractional anisotropy and total IQ and visual
perception scores was detected in a young adult VLBW group, demonstrating the
pervasive nature of the reduction in cognition and perception in this group.
The results demonstrate that the neuroimpairments persist into adulthood.