White matter microstructure correlates with mathematics but not word reading performance in 13-year-old children born very preterm and full-term

Simonne E Collins; Megan Spencer-Smith; Ines Mürner-Lavanchy; Claire E Kelly; Philippa Pyman; Leona Pascoe; Jeanie Cheong; Lex W Doyle; Deanne K Thompson; Peter J Anderson

doi:10.1016/j.nicl.2019.101944

White matter microstructure correlates with mathematics but not word reading performance in 13-year-old children born very preterm and full-term

Neuroimage Clin. 2019:24:101944. doi: 10.1016/j.nicl.2019.101944. Epub 2019 Jul 22.

Authors

Affiliations

¹ Victorian Infant Brain Studies, Murdoch Children's Research Institute, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia; Turner Institute for Brain and Mental Health, School of Psychological Sciences, Monash University, Melbourne, Australia; Developmental Imaging, Murdoch Children's Research Institute, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. Electronic address: simonne.collins@monash.edu.
² Victorian Infant Brain Studies, Murdoch Children's Research Institute, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia; Turner Institute for Brain and Mental Health, School of Psychological Sciences, Monash University, Melbourne, Australia.
³ Victorian Infant Brain Studies, Murdoch Children's Research Institute, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia; Turner Institute for Brain and Mental Health, School of Psychological Sciences, Monash University, Melbourne, Australia; University Hospital of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland.
⁴ Victorian Infant Brain Studies, Murdoch Children's Research Institute, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia; Developmental Imaging, Murdoch Children's Research Institute, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.
⁵ Victorian Infant Brain Studies, Murdoch Children's Research Institute, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia; Neonatal Services, The Royal Women's Hospital, Melbourne, Australia; Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia.
⁶ Victorian Infant Brain Studies, Murdoch Children's Research Institute, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia; Neonatal Services, The Royal Women's Hospital, Melbourne, Australia; Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia; Department of Paediatrics, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia.
⁷ Victorian Infant Brain Studies, Murdoch Children's Research Institute, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia; Department of Paediatrics, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia; Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health, Melbourne, Australia; Developmental Imaging, Murdoch Children's Research Institute, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.
⁸ Victorian Infant Brain Studies, Murdoch Children's Research Institute, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia; Turner Institute for Brain and Mental Health, School of Psychological Sciences, Monash University, Melbourne, Australia. Electronic address: peter.j.anderson@monash.edu.

Abstract

Individuals born very preterm (VPT; <32 weeks' gestational age) are at increased risk of impaired mathematics and word reading performance, as well as widespread white matter microstructural alterations compared with individuals born full term (FT; ≥37 weeks' gestational age). To date, the link between academic performance and white matter microstructure is not well understood. This study aimed to investigate the associations between mathematics and reading performance with white matter microstructure in 114 VPT and 36 FT 13-year-old children. Additionally, we aimed to investigate whether the association of mathematics and reading performance with white matter microstructure in VPT children varied as a function of impairment. To do this, we used diffusion tensor imaging and advanced diffusion modelling techniques (Neurite Orientation Dispersion and Density Imaging and the Spherical Mean Technique), combined with a whole-brain analysis approach (Tract-Based Spatial Statistics). Mathematics performance across VPT and FT groups was positively associated with white matter microstructural measurements of fractional anisotropy and neurite density, and negatively associated with radial and mean diffusivities in widespread, bilateral regions. Furthermore, VPT children with a mathematics impairment (>1 standard deviation below FT mean) had significantly reduced neurite density compared with VPT children without an impairment. Reading performance was not significantly associated with any of the white matter microstructure parameters. Additionally, the associations between white matter microstructure and mathematics and reading performance did not differ significantly between VPT and FT groups. Our findings suggest that alterations in white matter microstructure, and more specifically lower neurite density, are associated with poorer mathematics performance in 13-year-old VPT and FT children. More research is required to understand the association between reading performance and white matter microstructure in 13-year-old children.

Keywords: Academic performance; Diffusion imaging; Prematurity; Very preterm; White matter.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Academic Performance / psychology
Academic Performance / trends*
Adolescent
Diffusion Magnetic Resonance Imaging / methods
Diffusion Magnetic Resonance Imaging / trends
Female
Follow-Up Studies
Humans
Infant, Extremely Premature / physiology*
Infant, Extremely Premature / psychology
Male
Mathematical Concepts*
Reading*
Term Birth / physiology*
Term Birth / psychology
White Matter / diagnostic imaging*