Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) for assessing fetal and neonatal brain development in the YOUth Cohort.

The human brain is the result of an elaborate developmental trajectory of its
evolving neurons, axons, dendrites, volumetric growth as well as macroscale
(trans)formation of its neuronal wiring architecture. Most important
maturational and morphological changes occur during the last trimester of
pregnancy (between 29 and 40 weeks), but normal development of brain
architecture between the beginning of the last trimester of pregnancy and
immediately after birth is sparsely described in vivo.
One of the purposes of YOUth is to explain how brain development mediates
neurocognitive outcome in children, but high-resolution neuroimaging data of
the fetal and neonatal brain are missing. To complement the whole range of
neurocognitive developmental determinants as measured in YOUth, this study will
explore longitudinal structural and functional maturation of the fetal and
neonatal brain using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Findings on dynamic
variation in (micro)structure, cortical volume, cortical folding and surface,
functional and structural connectivity using longitudinal MRI with refined data
analyzing methods would be of great importance for our understanding of brain
maturation. It will be of additional value to link early structural and
functional neurodevelopment to later life cognitions, behavioral control and
social competence as measured in the longitudinal YOUth study.

This study aims to analyze (micro)structural and functional brain development
between the early last trimester fetal and neonatal period with the use of
longitudinal MRI sequences and sophisticated post-acquisition processing
techniques. Subsequently, we aim to find a relation between structural and
functional brain development and long-term neurocognition and behavioral
outcome as examined in the YOUth study.

The current fetal and neonatal MRI study will be an extension of the
longitudinal YOUth baby and child study. Pregnant mothers will be invited to
undergo an MRI scan. This first MRI scan takes place in utero at 30 to 34 weeks
of gestation and the second MRI and ultrasound within the three months after
birth. Each MRI scan will include at least T1 weighted and T2, DWI, DTI, SWI,
PC-MRI and rs-functional MRI sequences.

The information gained from this study will attribute to the scientific
knowledge of pre- and neonatal development of the human brain and cannot be
examined in adults. The burden for both the mother and the newborn child is the
experience of undergoing an MRI scan and ultrasound. There is no direct benefit
or significant-risk for the subjects, when normal precautions are taken by our
experienced staff (e.g. hearing protection, no metal). Current experimental and
clinical evidence indicates that there are no adverse biological effects for
pregnant women, fetuses and neonates from the use of MRI.