What is already known on this topic?
- The most common neurologic impairment in children born extremely preterm is in cognitive function.
- Cognitive development has been well described in infancy and early childhood but the trajectory into early adulthood is unknown.
What this study adds?
- Impaired cognitive function evident in infancy persists into early adulthood among individuals born extremely preterm, with no evidence of substantial recovery or deterioration.
- Cognitive test scores in infancy and early childhood reflect early adult outcomes.
- Male sex and moderate/severe neonatal brain injury has an adverse effect on cognitive trajectories in individuals born extremely preterm.
Read more at: http://dx.doi.org/10.1136/archdischild-2017-313414 (Open Access)