Using MRI, researchers found that brains of infant boys born prematurely are affected differently and more severely than premature infant girls, according to a study published online in the September issue of Nature Pediatric Research.
Led by Peg Nopoulos, PhD, chair and departmental executive officer of psychiatry at the University of Iowa, a team of researchers examined brain MRI of 33 infants who were born full term (carried for at least 38 weeks) and preterm (less than 37 weeks) in conjunction with clinical data and questionnaires completed by the infants' mothers.
The MRIs revealed significant sex differences in the tissue structure of the premature infants' brains. In relation to the effects of prematurity, Nopoulos and colleagues found that the earlier a baby was born, the smaller his or her cerebral volume.
For premature infant boys, their gray matter—responsible for muscle control, memory, speech and emotion—was lower. The earlier an infant girl was born, the lower the volume of white matter, which helps connect gray matter.
"Given this background, it seems likely and even expected that the effects of prematurity on brain development would be more severe in males,” Nopoulos said in a prepared statement. “The insults to the premature brain incurred within the first few weeks and months of life set the stage for an altered developmental trajectory that plays out throughout the remainder of development and maturation.”
A recent graduate from Dominican University (IL) with a bachelor’s in journalism, Melissa joined TriMed’s Chicago team in 2017 covering all aspects of health imaging. She’s a fan of singing and playing guitar, elephants, a good cup of tea, and her golden retriever Cooper.