New insights into the role of environmental factors in the development of individuals born preterm

Session Type: Paper Symposium

Abstract

Children born preterm (PT) are at increased risk of physical and mental health problems and developmental delay. However, not all PT individuals experience adverse outcomes. Identifying modifiable, environmental factors associated with outcomes could help promote positive outcomes for PT individuals. This symposium includes four papers examining aspects of the intrauterine and postnatal environment in relation to neurobehavioral outcomes for PT individuals. These talks span the life course, examine factors at all ecological levels, and include samples from different countries, species, and degrees of prematurity.
The first paper (Camerota) investigates prenatal risk phenotypes and two-year neurodevelopmental outcomes for infants born < 30 weeks GA. Preterm infants born to mothers with elevated psychological risk are at increased risk for neurodevelopmental problems compared to infants whose mothers had a low-risk prenatal phenotype.
The second paper (Marable) examines placental gene expression and neonatal white matter (WM) injury in infants born < 28 weeks GA. Expression of 244 genes were dysregulated in the placentas of infants with WM damage, suggesting that molecular processes in the placenta may predispose PT infants to brain injury.
The third paper (Wolke) examines social factors as additive, mediating, and/or moderating effects for developmental outcomes into adulthood for individuals born < 32 weeks GA. Findings show moderate to large effects of social factors on academic and mental health outcomes for PT individuals.
The fourth paper (Gueron-Sela) uses a cross-fostering design within a PT mouse model to show that high-quality caregiving attenuates risk for anxiety-like behaviors and biological indices in the amygdala.

Sub Unit

• Health, Growth, Injury

Chairs

• Noa Gueron-Sela, Ben Gurion University of the Negev

• Marie Camerota, Brown University

Individual Presentations

• Prenatal risk phenotypes and neurodevelopmental outcomes among infants born very preterm - Presenting Author: Marie Camerota, Brown University; Elisabeth McGowan; Brain Carter; Jennifer Check; Lynne Dansereau; Sheri DellaGrotta; Jennifer Helderman; Julie A. Hofheimer, University of North Carolina School of Medicine; Charles R Neal; T. Michael O'Shea, University of North Carolina School of Medicine; Steven Pastyrnak; Lynne Smith; Barry M Lester, Brown University-Women & Infants Hospital of Rhode Island

• Placental inflammation is associated with brain damage in the neonate highlighting the placental-brain-axis - Presenting Author: Carmen Amelia Marable, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill; Kyle Roell; Karl Kuban; T. Michael O'Shea, University of North Carolina School of Medicine; Rebecca Fry

• Very preterm birth, social influences and developmental outcomes: alternative developmental mechanisms - Presenting Author: Dieter F H Wolke, University of Warwick

• Premature birth, maternal care and anxiety risk: insights from a cross-fostering mice model - Presenting Author: Motty Franko; Ravid Doron; Noa Gueron-Sela, Ben Gurion University of the Negev