Takeaway
Differences in white matter development between very pre-term (VP) and full-term (FT) children may be determined by the T1- and T2-weighted (T1-w/T2-w) ratio technique.
Why this matters ?
Myelin, a lipid-rich substance that ensheathes axons in the white matter of the brain, is important for rapid neurotransmission and myelin maturation occurs rapidly between childhood and adolescence.
Infants born VP (<32 weeks’ gestation) are more susceptible to alterations in myelin development than infants born FT.
Infancy to adolescence is an important period for observing white matter development and determining its association with neurodevelopment.