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The following is a summary of “Prenatal Adversity and Neonatal White Matter Microstructure Independently Relate to Language Outcomes at Age 2 Years,” published in the May 2025 issue of Journal of Pediatrics by Bjork et al. 

Researchers conducted a retrospective study to explore how neonatal white matter (WM) development mediated and moderated the relationship between prenatal adversity and language outcomes at age 2 years.  

They analyzed data from 160 infants [gestational ages (GA) 41–39 weeks (n=83), 38–37 weeks (n=62), and 36–34 weeks (n=15)] who underwent neonatal diffusion magnetic resonance imaging (dMRI) and completed Bayley Scales of Infant and Toddler Development-III (Bayley-III) language assessments at age 2 years. Prenatal Social Disadvantage (PSD) and maternal Psychosocial Stress were measured during pregnancy. The multivariable and stepwise linear regression was applied, as well as mediation and moderation analyses, to examine links between prenatal adversity, neonatal WM, and later language outcomes. Maternal cognitive ability and home stimulation were added as covariates in the models.  

The results showed that PSD and maternal Psychosocial Stress were linked to poorer language outcomes (P<.001). When analyzed together, only PSD remained significantly associated with language performance (P<.001). Lower neonatal fractional anisotropy (FA) in the corpus callosum (CC) independently predicted weaker language outcomes after adjusting for PSD (P=.02), CC FA did not mediate the PSD-language association [indirect effect 95% CIs: -0.96–0.15], and no significant interaction was observed between PSD and CC FA (P>.05).  

Investigators concluded that PSD and neonatal CC FA were independently associated with language outcomes, supporting the need for early poverty-reducing and maternal psychosocial interventions in the context of Neurology. 

Source: jpeds.com/article/S0022-3476(25)00216-1/abstract