Approximately 2% of neonates in the US are born very preterm. Preterm births are associated with impaired cognitive, language and motor function, and increased risk for autism spectrum disorders. Epidemiological studies indicate a dose-response relationship between gestational age at delivery and cognitive impairments, with the most immature of newborns being the most susceptible to developmental delays. Sensitive and reproducible biomarkers of long-term neurocognitive impairments are currently lacking. The investigators seek to identify epigenetic markers that mediate the relationship between adverse prematurity-related exposures and neurocognitive impairments. The overarching hypothesis of this proposal is that DNA methylation profiles of CD34+ hematopoetic progenitor and stem cells from very preterm infants can be used as a risk-stratifying biomarker for predicting neurocognitive impairment in childhood.
Study Type
OBSERVATIONAL
Enrollment
4
Jack D. Weiler Hospital
The Bronx, New York, United States
Brain white matter development
Brain MRI
Time frame: 38-42 weeks adjusted age
Neurodevelopment
Administration of NICU Neonatal Neurobehavioral Scale
Time frame: 38-42 weeks adjusted age
Neurodevelopment
Administration of Bayley Scales of Infant and Toddler Development, 3rd edition
Time frame: 18-24 months adjusted age
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