Premature Birth
Conditions
Keywords
Early intervention, Brain Development, Neurodevelopment
Brief summary
Preterm infants, during their stay in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU), face a period of stressful environment, which may negatively impact early brain development and subsequent neurobehavioral outcomes. This study aims to assess the effectiveness of training parents in reducing stressful experiences early in life and in enhancing brain development and long term developmental outcomes.
Detailed description
Very preterm birth is associated with motor, cognitive and behavioral problems. Micro-structural brain abnormalities, even in the absence of focal lesions, have been documented by neuroimaging studies in preterm infants at term corrected age and later in childhood. These alterations in brain maturation occurring during the neonatal period may be implicated in long-term neurobehavioral disorders later experienced by preterm babies. However, there is increasing evidence that also negative environmental factors (intensive care, excessive sensory stimulation, paucity of parental contact etc.) can affect later outcomes. Potential benefits of early dyadic interaction and preterm baby massage in reducing the effects of the NICU stressor environment have been demonstrated. More recently, few studies have investigated visual function in preterm infants focusing on the potential role of early visual interaction to enhance attention and improve later neurodevelopment. The role of early intervention strategies to improve neurodevelopment has been recently emphasized. Early intervention programs based on the concept of individualized care have proved to be effective in promoting brain maturation and neurodevelopmental outcome. In this context, early interventions as the Mother Infant Transaction Program (MITP) and the Premie Start, both targeting parenting, have the greatest potential to have sustained effects on child development. In addition, recent studies have shown that exposure to stressful events in the neonatal period can cause epigenetic modifications in children born preterm; in particular alteration of serotonergic tone was observed, associated with methylation of the serotonin transporter gene, which could be implicated in the etiology of behavioral disorders observed in these children. In animal models these epigenetic effects appear to be influenced by maternal care that can epigenetically modulate the offsprings' stress response.
Interventions
BEHAVIORALEarly Intervention
Sponsors
Fondazione IRCCS Ca' Granda, Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico
Study design
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Intervention model
PARALLEL
Primary purpose
SUPPORTIVE_CARE
Masking
DOUBLE (Subject, Outcomes Assessor)
Eligibility
Sex/Gender
ALL
Age
25 Weeks to 29 Weeks
Healthy volunteers
No
Inclusion criteria
* Gestational age between 25+0 and 29+6 weeks
Exclusion criteria
* major brain lesions as documented by cranial ultrasound (intraventricular hemorrhage \> 2 grade, cystic periventricular leukomalacia) * neurosensorial deficits (retinopathy of prematurity \> stage 2) * genetic syndromes and/or major congenital malformations * major neonatal comorbidities Mothers are selected according to the following inclusion criteria: age over 18 years, good comprehension of Italian language, no obvious cognitive impairments or psychiatric disorders, no drug addiction and no single-parent families.
Design outcomes
Primary
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Neonatal Visual Assessment Battery to evaluate visual function | 40 weeks postmenstrual age | Neonatal Visual Function is assessed using the Visual Assessment Battery developed by Ricci et al. The assessment evaluates the following items: Ocular spontaneous motility, ability to fix and follow a target, reaction to colour, visual acuity and visual attention at distance. Each item is scored as normal (score 0) or abnormal (score 1). The global score is then calculated as the sum of all the individual items, as designed by the authors. |
| Neonatal Behavior | 2 months corrected age | Neonatal behavior is assessed using the Neonatal Behavior Assessment Scale that evaluates: habituation, social-interactive, motor system, state organization and regulation, autonomic system, reflexes. |
Secondary
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Epigenetic changes | up to 48 weeks gestational age | epigenetic analysis is performed at birth on a cord blood sample (0.5 ml) and at hospital discharge on a peripheral blood sample (0.5 ml) collected according routine clinical procedures |
| overall duration of hospitalisation | up to 48 weeks gestational age | number of days from admission to home discharge from NICU |
| Weight (in grams) at 40 weeks postmenstrual age | 40 week gestational age | — |
| Length(in centimeters) at 40 weeks postmenstrual age | 40 week gestational age | — |
| Head circumference (in centimeters) at 40 weeks postmenstrual age | 40 week gestational age | — |
| Acquisition of full oral feeding | up to 48 weeks gestational age | Postmenstrual age at the acquisition of full oral feeding |
| Brain development | 40 weeks postmenstrual age | Conventional and advanced MRI |
| Neurodevelopmental outcome | 5-6 years of age | Children neurodevelopment is assessed using the Griffiths Development Scales (GMDS). Scores range from 50 to 150 General quotient mean 100 SD 12, sub scales mean 100 SD 16 Higher scores mean a better outcome |
| Behavioral outcome | 5-6 years of age | Children behavior is assessed using the Child Behavior Checklist. A T score above 70 is considered to be in the clinical range, a T score between 65 an 70 is considered borderline while a T score below 65 is considered normal |
| Neuromotor outcome | 5-6 years of age | Children neuromotor is assessed using the Movement Assessment Battery for Children (Movement ABC). A score above 67 is considered to be in the normal range, a score between 57 an 67 is considered borderline while a score below 56 is considered pathological |
| Attention outcome | 5-6 years of age | Child attention abilities is assessed using the Early Childhood Attention Battery (ECAB). Scaled scores range from 1 to 19. Lower scores indicate worst outcome |
| L1 promoter methylation levels on buccal swab | 5-6 years of age | epigenetic analysis - L1 promoter methylation (Percent) assessment is performed on a buccal swab collected at follow-up assessment at 5-6 years. |
| Feeding with Human milk | up to 40 weeks gestational age | Feeding with human milk at 40 weeks postmenstrual age (yes or no) |
| Developmental outcome | 24 months corrected age | Children development is assessed using the Bayley Scales of Infant and Toddlers (Third edition) - including: cognitive, motor, language, social-emotional and adaptive behavior) |
Countries
Italy
Outcome results
None listed