Fixel-based analysis reveals alterations is brain microstructure and macrostructure of preterm-born infants at term equivalent age

Pannek, Kerstin; Fripp, Jürgen; George, Joanne M.; Fiori, Simona; Colditz, Paul B.; Boyd, Roslyn N.; Rose, Stephen

doi:10.1016/j.nicl.2018.01.003

Cited by 52 publications

(50 citation statements)

References 33 publications

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“…Findings of lower FD in such tracts are consistent with those from previous studies who reported microstructural alterations in similar tracts using DTI indices [20][21][22]49 . Although, to our knowledge, no study has investigated FD in VP/VLBW adults, two studies have previously reported lower FD in premature-born infants, children and early adolescents using fixel-based analysis 48,50 . Our results are in line with their findings of lower FD in the genu, body and splenium of the corpus callosum in premature-born infants 48 and of lower FD in the corpus callosum, tapetum, inferior fronto-occipital fasciculus and fornix in premature-born children and adolescents 50 .…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Although, to our knowledge, no study has investigated FD in VP/VLBW adults, two studies have previously reported lower FD in premature-born infants, children and early adolescents using fixel-based analysis 48,50 . Our results are in line with their findings of lower FD in the genu, body and splenium of the corpus callosum in premature-born infants 48 and of lower FD in the corpus callosum, tapetum, inferior fronto-occipital fasciculus and fornix in premature-born children and adolescents 50 . Moreover, since more widespread lower FD was found in premature-born children than in infants, and in premature-born adolescents than in children, our report of Figure 2.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Reduced apparent fiber density in the white matter of premature-born adults

Menegaux

Hedderich

Bäuml

et al. 2020

Sci Rep

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Premature-born adults exhibit lasting white matter alterations as demonstrated by widespread reduction in fractional anisotropy (FA) based on diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI). FA reduction, however, is non-specific for microscopic underpinnings such as aberrant myelination or fiber density (FD). Using recent advances in DWI, we tested the hypothesis of reduced FD in premature-born adults and investigated its link with the degree of prematurity and cognition. 73 premature- and 89 mature-born adults aged 25–27 years underwent single-shell DWI, from which a FD measure was derived using convex optimization modeling for microstructure informed tractography (COMMIT). Premature-born adults exhibited lower FD in numerous tracts including the corpus callosum and corona radiata compared to mature-born adults. These FD alterations were associated with both the degree of prematurity, as assessed via gestational age and birth weight, as well as with reduced cognition as measured by full-scale IQ. Finally, lower FD overlapped with lower FA, suggesting lower FD underlie unspecific FA reductions. Results provide evidence that premature birth leads to lower FD in adulthood which links with lower full-scale IQ. Data suggest that lower FD partly underpins FA reductions of premature birth but that other processes such as hypomyelination might also take place.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Reduced apparent fiber density in the white matter of premature-born adults

Menegaux

Hedderich

Bäuml

et al. 2020

Sci Rep

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“…Pannek et al . demonstrated reduced FD, FC, and FD multiplied by FC (FDC) in the corticospinal tract and corpus callosum in preterm infants at term equivalent age compared to healthy controls 89 . We have observed a significant negative correlation between FC and FDC and duration of mechanical ventilation and parenteral nutrition in preterm infants at term equivalent age, suggesting that aberrant white matter development previously attributed to microstructural changes may be due to alterations in the size (fibre cross-sectional area) of specific fibre bundles at the macroscopic scale 90 .…”

Section: Fixel-based Analysismentioning

confidence: 96%

Recent advances in diffusion neuroimaging: applications in the developing preterm brain

et al. 2018

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Measures obtained from diffusion-weighted imaging provide objective indices of white matter development and injury in the developing preterm brain. To date, diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) has been used widely, highlighting differences in fractional anisotropy (FA) and mean diffusivity (MD) between preterm infants at term and healthy term controls; altered white matter development associated with a number of perinatal risk factors; and correlations between FA values in the white matter in the neonatal period and subsequent neurodevelopmental outcome. Recent developments, including neurite orientation dispersion and density imaging (NODDI) and fixel-based analysis (FBA), enable white matter microstructure to be assessed in detail. Constrained spherical deconvolution (CSD) enables multiple fibre populations in an imaging voxel to be resolved and allows delineation of fibres that traverse regions of fibre-crossings, such as the arcuate fasciculus and cerebellar–cortical pathways. This review summarises DTI findings in the preterm brain and discusses initial findings in this population using CSD, NODDI, and FBA.

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“…Additionally, lower myelination could increase the exchange of water between the intra-axonal and extra-axonal spaces, resulting in an apparent decrease in the volume of the intraaxonal compartment, and hence a decrease in FD. 12,35 Therefore, the current results could also indicate that VP children have less myelination than FT children. These findings suggest there is a decreased capacity to transfer information between brain regions in VP children compared with FT children.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 63%

“…[9][10][11] Previous studies have clearly documented the impact of preterm birth and associated perinatal risk factors on FBA metrics during the neonatal period. 12,13 Infants born <31 weeks' gestation and scanned at 38-44 weeks' postmenstrual age had lower FD, FC and FDC in the corpus callosum, fornix, anterior commissure, optic radiation, cerebral and cerebellar peduncles, cingulum and superior longitudinal fasciculus compared with full-term (FT, born 38-41 weeks' gestation) infants. 12 In the same study, brain abnormality scored using the neonatal MRI scoring system of Kidokoro et al 14 was associated with reduced FD in the corpus callosum.…”

Section: (Which Was Not Certified By Peer Review)mentioning

confidence: 99%

Long-term development of white matter fibre density and morphology up to 13 years after preterm birth

Thompson

Genc

et al. 2020

Preprint

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Background: It is well documented that infants born very preterm (VP) are at risk of brain injury and altered brain development in the neonatal period, however there is a lack of long-term, longitudinal studies on the effects of VP birth on white matter development over childhood. Most previous studies were based on voxel-averaged, non-fibre-specific diffusion magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) measures, such as fractional anisotropy. In contrast, the novel diffusion MRI analysis framework, fixel-based analysis (FBA), enables whole-brain analysis of microstructural and macrostructural properties of individual fibre populations at a sub-voxel level. We applied FBA to investigate the long-term implications of VP birth and associated perinatal risk factors on fibre development in childhood and adolescence. Methods: Diffusion images were acquired for a cohort of VP (born <30 weeks' gestation) and full-term (FT, ≥37 weeks' gestation) children at two ages: mean (SD) 7.6 (0.2) years (n=138 VP and 32 FT children) and 13.3 (0.4) years (n=130 VP and 45 FT children). 103 VP and 21 FT children had images at both ages for longitudinal analysis. At every fixel (individual fibre population within an image voxel) across the white matter, we compared FBA metrics (fibre density (FD), cross-section (FC) and a combination of these properties (FDC)) between VP and FT groups cross-sectionally at each age, and longitudinally between ages. We also examined associations between perinatal risk factors and FBA metrics in the VP group. Results: Compared with FT children, VP children had lower FD, FC and FDC throughout the white matter, particularly in the corpus callosum, tapetum, inferior fronto-occipital fasciculus, fornix and cingulum at ages 7 and 13 years, as well as the motor pathways at age 13 years. VP children also had slower FDC development in the corpus callosum and corticospinal tract between ages 7 and 13 years compared with FT children. Within VP children, earlier gestational age at birth, lower birth weight z-score, and neonatal brain abnormalities were associated with lower FD, FC and FDC throughout the white matter at both ages. Conclusions: VP birth and concomitant perinatal risk factors are associated with fibre tract-specific alterations to axonal development in childhood and adolescence.

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Fixel-based analysis reveals alterations is brain microstructure and macrostructure of preterm-born infants at term equivalent age

Cited by 52 publications

References 33 publications

Reduced apparent fiber density in the white matter of premature-born adults

Reduced apparent fiber density in the white matter of premature-born adults

Recent advances in diffusion neuroimaging: applications in the developing preterm brain

Long-term development of white matter fibre density and morphology up to 13 years after preterm birth

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