127 - Parental Stress and Adversity, Brain Functional Connectivity, and Language Scores in Extremely Preterm Children and Term Peers at 8-12 Years

Children born extremely preterm (EPT, < 28 weeks) are at risk for language difficulties. The trajectory of (and contributors to) language development in prematurity are poorly understood. Previously, we reported functional and structural hyperconnectivity in EPT at 4-6 years positively related to language skill at the same age.

Objective:

To investigate the degree to which parental stress and adversity impact child language development in EPT versus term children (TC) at 8-12 years of age and the degree to which this is mediated by brain connectivity.

Design/Methods:

In this preliminary report of a longitudinal study of language in 120 children, we analyzed functional connectivity (weighted phase lag index, wPLI) in 21 EPT and 23 TC using fMRI-constrained magnetoencephalography (MEG) during a stories listening task at 8-12 years. fMRI and MEG were recorded and analyzed as in our prior work (Barnes-Davis, et al., 2021). Nodes for MEG connectivity analyses were obtained from fMRI activation maps. Brain activity in MEG was estimated at each node and wPLI compared between groups. Subnetworks driving group differences were identified. In keeping with our prior work, we assessed the relationship between subnetwork strength, language scores (Clinical Evaluation of Language Fundamentals), and parental stress and adversity (including adverse childhood experiences, ACEs, assessed by the Stress and Adversity Inventory, STRAIN) at 8-12 years. Multivariable linear regression analyses (unadjusted and adjusted for birth group, parental education, and race) were completed with language as the primary outcome. Brain connectivity and STRAIN scores were predictors in distinct analyses. We analyzed the degree to which the relationship between parental ACEs and child language was mediated by brain connectivity.

Results:

There were no significant group differences in age, sex, race, ethnicity, parental education or income, or language representation on fMRI. EPT had lower language scores versus TC at 8-12 years (p< 0.05, Table 1). EPT exhibited hyperconnectivity versus TC at 16-20.5Hz (10,000 permutations, p< 0.05) in a bilateral subnetwork (Fig 1). Network strength did not correlate with language or STRAIN variables. Parental ACEs negatively related to child language in adjusted and unadjusted models. Connectivity was not a significant mediator.

Conclusion(s):

Functional hyperconnectivity persists in EPT to 8-12 years, but the significance is unclear. Parental ACEs negatively related to language scores for both EPT and TC. Assessment of the remaining cohort is ongoing and additional results will be available by April 2023.