Maternal Postsecondary Education Associated With Improved Cerebellar Growth After Preterm Birth.

Authors

Mikaela L Stiver, Division of Neurology, Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Ontario, Canada Department of Psychology and Collaborative Neuroscience Program, University of Guelph, Guelph, Ontario, Canada
Daphne Kamino, Division of Neurology, Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Ting Guo, Division of Neurology, Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Angela Thompson, Division of Neurology, Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Emma G Duerden, Division of Neurology, Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Margot J Taylor, Department of Diagnostic Imaging, Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Ontario, Canada Department of Psychology, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Emily W Y Tam, Division of Neurology, Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Ontario, Canada Department of Pediatrics, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, CanadaFollow

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

10-1-2015

Journal

Journal of child neurology

Volume

30

Issue

12

First Page

1633

Last Page

1639

URL with Digital Object Identifier

10.1177/0883073815576790

Abstract

The preterm cerebellum is vulnerable to impaired development impacting long-term outcome. Preterm newborns (<32 >weeks) underwent serial magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans. The association between parental education and cerebellar volume at each time point was assessed, adjusting for age at scan. In 26 infants, cerebellar volumes at term (P = .001), but not birth (P = .4), were associated with 2-year volumes. For 1 cm(3) smaller cerebellar volume (4% total volume) at term, the cerebellum was 3.18 cm(3) smaller (3% total volume) by 2 years. Maternal postsecondary education was not associated with cerebellar volume at term (P = .16). Maternal postsecondary education was a significant confounder in the relationship between term and 2-year cerebellar volumes (P = .016), with higher education associated with improved volumes by 2 years. Although preterm birth has been found to be associated with smaller cerebellar volumes at term, maternal postsecondary education is associated with improved growth detectable by 2 years.