Neonatal White Matter Abnormalities Predict Global Executive Function Impairment in Children Born Very Preterm

Abstract

Using prospective longitudinal data from 110 very preterm and 113 full term children, this article describes the executive functioning abilities of very preterm children at age 4, and examines relations between the extent of white matter abnormality on neonatal magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and later executive function outcomes. Very preterm children performed less well than full term children on measures of planning ability, cognitive flexibility, selective attention, and inhibitory control. Executive impairments at age 4 were confined to preterm children with mild or moderate–severe white matter abnormalities on MRI. Findings support the importance of cerebral white matter integrity for later executive function.

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

Special thanks to Michelle Davey, Jacqueline Knight, and Carole Spencer for assistance with data collection, and also to study families for their time and support of this project.

Notes

This research was funded from grants from the Neurological Foundation of New Zealand, Health Research Council of New Zealand, Canterbury Medical Research Foundation, and the Lottery Grants Board.