Preterm Children’s Brains Can Catch Up Years Later

New research published in The Journal of Pediatrics found that the brains of preterm children can perform almost as well as those born at full term by the time they become teenagers. The study found that as long as preterm children don’t experience any brain injuries in early life, their cognitive abilities as teenagers can potentially be as good as their peers. However, the results of the study also found that the quality of the home environment at the time of the child’s birth plays an important role in their cognition later in life. “This study had some positive news. We looked at the factors that determine cognitive abilities in early adolescence, and found that whether or not you were born preterm appears to play a relatively minor role. Of significantly more importance is the degree of social disadvantage you experienced in your early life after birth, although genetics is important,” said one of the study’s lead authors. To read more about this study, click here.