Reduced hippocampal subfield volumes and memory performance in preterm children with and without germinal matrix-intraventricular hemorrhage

Abstract

Cervell; Investigació pediàtrica

Cerebro; Investigación pediátrica

Brain; Paediatric research

Preterm newborns with germinal matrix-intraventricular hemorrhage (GM-IVH) are at a higher risk of evidencing neurodevelopmental alterations. Present study aimed to explore the long-term effects that GM-IVH have on hippocampal subfields, and their correlates with memory. The sample consisted of 58 participants, including 36 preterm-born (16 with GM-IVH and 20 without neonatal brain injury), and 22 full-term children aged between 6 and 15 years old. All participants underwent a cognitive assessment and magnetic resonance imaging study. GM-IVH children evidenced lower scores in Full Intelligence Quotient and memory measures compared to their low-risk preterm and full-term peers. High-risk preterm children with GM-IVH evidenced significantly lower total hippocampal volumes bilaterally and hippocampal subfield volumes compared to both low-risk preterm and full-term groups. Finally, significant positive correlations between memory and hippocampal subfield volumes were only found in preterm participants together; memory and the right CA-field correlation remained significant after Bonferroni correction was applied (p = .002). In conclusion, memory alterations and both global and regional volumetric reductions in the hippocampus were found to be specifically related to a preterm sample with GM-IVH. Nevertheless, results also suggest that prematurity per se has a long-lasting impact on the association between the right CA-field volume and memory during childhood.

This study was funded by the Spanish Ministry of Science, Innovation and Universities [P.I.: L. Zubiaurre-Elorza (PSI2017-83657-P)]. L. Fernández de Gamarra-Oca, S. Soria-Pastor, R. L. Zubiaurre-Elorza, and E. Solana hold fellowships from the Basque Government (PRE_2019_1_0105), the Spanish Ministry of Education and Science (AP2005-0047) and (AP2008-0935) and the Vall d’Hebron Research Institute, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona respectively. We would like to extend special thanks to the families and the children who participated in this study.