Patterns of Fetal and Infant Growth and Brain Morphology at Age 10 Years

Key Points Question Are fetal and infant weight growth associated with cerebral and cerebellar gray and white matter volumes at age 10 years? Findings In this population-based cohort study of 3098 children, increased weight gain during the fetal period and the first 2 years of life was associated with larger brain volumes at age 10 years. Compared with children with normal fetal and infant growth, those who experienced fetal weight deceleration followed by infant catch-up growth had similar brain volumes later in childhood. Meaning The findings of this study suggest that early-life growth patterns may be associated with cerebral and cerebellar brain volumes in children at school age.


eTable 1. Fetal and infant growth measures
eTable 2. Comparison of characteristics between responders and non-responders eTable 3. Associations of birth outcomes with childhood brain outcomes (BMI models) eTable 4. Associations of birth outcomes with childhood brain outcomes (subcortical structures) eTable 5. Critical periods during fetal and infant life and childhood brain outcomes (BMI models) eTable 6. Critical periods during fetal and infant life and childhood brain outcomes (subcortical structures) eTable 7. Associations of longitudinal fetal and infant growth patterns with childhood brain outcomes (BMI models) eTable 8. Associations of longitudinal fetal and infant growth patterns with childhood brain outcomes (subcortical structures) eTable 9. Associations of infant growth patterns with childhood brain outcomes (BMI models) eTable 10. Associations of infant growth patterns with childhood brain outcomes (subcortical structures) eTable 11. Associations of birth outcomes with childhood brain outcomes (basic models) eTable 12. Critical periods during fetal and infant life and childhood brain outcomes (basic models) eTable 13. Associations of longitudinal fetal and infant growth patterns with childhood brain outcomes (basic models) eTable 14. Associations of infant growth patterns with childhood brain outcomes (basic models) This supplemental material has been provided by the authors to give readers additional information about their work. eFigure 1. Flowchart of study population.

N = 3790
Excluded: Children that did not attend the study visit at 9-12 years.

N = 12
Excluded: Children with no data available on fetal, birth or infant growth characteristics.

N = 9494
Singleton children with data on fetal or infant growth characteristics available.

N = 5704
Singleton children with data on fetal or infant growth characteristics that attended the study visit at 9-12 years.

N= 3882
Subgroup of children that underwent neuroimaging assessment at 9-12 years.

N = 1822
Excluded: Children that did not participate in neuroimaging assessment.