STG GMV link preterm birth and autism spectrum eye gazing traits in toddlers at 18 months
Poster No:
269
Submission Type:
Abstract Submission
Authors:
Guangfei Li1, Yanan Su2, Bao Li2, Youjun Liu2, Mingai Li2, Tongna Wang3, Liyuan Zhang2, JInping Dong2
Institutions:
1Beijing University of technology, Beijing, Beijing, 2Beijing University of Technology, Beijing, Beijing, 3Bejing University of Technology, Beijing, Beijing
First Author:
Co-Author(s):
Introduction:
Preterm birth involves structural brain changes and increases the risk of autism spectrum disorder (ASD). However, it remains unclear whether or how volumetric brain changes may impact the risk of ASD in children of preterm birth.
Methods:
We curated data of 569 toddlers approximately 18 months of age, including 76 (30 girls) with preterm (PB) and 493 (229 girls) with term (TB) birth, from the Developing Human Connectome Project. We processed the imaging data, collected at birth, using published routines and evaluated the results at a corrected threshold. We investigated group differences in gray matter volume (GMV) of the brain and eye-tracking data collected at 18 months as well as the interrelationships amongst birth age, GMVs, and eye-tracking indicators of ASD.
Results:
In a covariance analysis with age at scan, total intracranial volume, sex, and number of embryos at gestation as covariates, PB demonstrated higher GMV in bilateral superior temporal gyri (STG). Right STG GMV's were negatively correlated with birth age and positively with the proportion of looking at faces and mouths in PB, but not in TB. Slope tests suggested sex difference, with females dominating in these findings. Further, path analyses showed a significant/best fit of the model in PB: birth age → right STG GMV → mouth/face viewing.
·(a) Age of birth and age at scan in PB and TB. (b) Eye-tracking experiment. (c) Proportion of looking at faces, mouth, and eyes. (d) Birth age vs. looking at faces and (e) vs. looking at mouth.
·Regional GMV's with group differences. (a) PB vs. TB. (b) PBM vs. TBM. (c) PBF vs. TBF. All comparisons were with age at scan, TIV, and number of embryos at gestation as covariates
Conclusions:
The findings associate earlier birth age at birth with higher risks of ASD and suggest higher right STG GMV as a neural phenotype linking preterm birth to an eye gazing marker, particularly in females, of ASD.
Disorders of the Nervous System:
Neurodevelopmental/ Early Life (eg. ADHD, autism) 1
Novel Imaging Acquisition Methods:
Anatomical MRI 2
Keywords:
Autism
MRI
Other - preterm, face perception, eye tracking
1|2Indicates the priority used for review
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Provide references using APA citation style.
Crump, C.. (2021). Preterm or Early Term Birth and Risk of Autism. Pediatrics, 148(3).
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França, L. G. S. (2024). Neonatal brain dynamic functional connectivity in term and preterm infants and its association with early childhood neurodevelopment. Nature Communications, 15(1), 16
Harel-Gadassi, A. (2018). Risk for ASD in Preterm Infants: A Three-Year Follow-Up Study. Autism Res Treat, 2018, 8316212.
Johnson, S.. (2010). Autism spectrum disorders in extremely preterm children. J Pediatr, 156(4), 525-531.e522.