Monday, Jun 24: 9:00 AM - 10:15 AM
Symposium
COEX
Room: Grand Ballroom 104-105
The study aims to map child growth and neurodevelopment trajectories from early infancy (1 month) to 3.5 years in Karachi, Pakistan, using longitudinal MRI scans and neurodevelopmental assessments. The secondary goal is to explore relationships between modifiable environmental factors (e.g., early child nutrition, maternal stress) and evolving brain structure, function, and cognitive skills.
This longitudinal cohort study includes 250 mother-infant dyads divided into three groups based on infant age: Group 1 (1 month), Group 2 (3 months), and Group 3 (6 months). High Field MRI (3T) was performed on all participants, and ultra-low-field MRI was performed on 63 participants.
Neuroimaging data analyses include estimation of brain tissue volume, thickness and surface area, and subsequent correlation with neurocognitive assessments (GSED, RIAS, etc.) conducted at predetermined intervals, as well as associations with maternal and child health (micronutrient levels in blood and breast milk).