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Background <p>Very preterm (VPT) infants face an elevated risk of neurodevelopmental delays, yet early predictors of specific impairments are poorly understood. This study investigated how neonatal brain structure relates to neurodevelopmental delays in VPT toddlers.</p> Methods <p>We analysed term-equivalent&#xa0;T2-weighted MRI scans from 352 VPT infants. Neurodevelopmental outcomes were assessed at 18–24 months using the Bayley Scales of Infant and Toddler Development-III. We used tensor-based morphometry to compare voxel-wise whole-brain volumes between infants with and without developmental&#xa0;delay.</p> Results <p>Toddlers with motor delays showed significantly reduced volume in the left posterior cerebellum at term compared to those without&#xa0;motor delays, even after adjusting for other domains. No significant volumetric differences were observed for cognitive or language delays.</p> Conclusion <p>Reduced cerebellar volume at term is associated with motor delay in VPT toddlers. These findings highlight the cerebellum’s key role in early motor development and the value of structural MRI for early risk stratification.</p>

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Associations between neonatal brain structure and neurodevelopmental outcomes following very preterm birth

  • 期刊论文

  • 出版模式：

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  • 发表日期：

    2026年4月15日

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  • Zeyuan Sun,
  • Yan Ge,
  • Marguerite Leoni,
  • Andrew T. M. Chew,
  • Andrew J. Lawrence,
  • Serena J. Counsell,
  • Joseph V. Hajnal,
  • A. David Edwards,
  • Paola Dazzan,
  • Dafnis Batalle,
  • Chiara Nosarti

摘要

Background

Very preterm (VPT) infants face an elevated risk of neurodevelopmental delays, yet early predictors of specific impairments are poorly understood. This study investigated how neonatal brain structure relates to neurodevelopmental delays in VPT toddlers.

Methods

We analysed term-equivalent T2-weighted MRI scans from 352 VPT infants. Neurodevelopmental outcomes were assessed at 18–24 months using the Bayley Scales of Infant and Toddler Development-III. We used tensor-based morphometry to compare voxel-wise whole-brain volumes between infants with and without developmental delay.

Results

Toddlers with motor delays showed significantly reduced volume in the left posterior cerebellum at term compared to those without motor delays, even after adjusting for other domains. No significant volumetric differences were observed for cognitive or language delays.

Conclusion

Reduced cerebellar volume at term is associated with motor delay in VPT toddlers. These findings highlight the cerebellum’s key role in early motor development and the value of structural MRI for early risk stratification.