Premature babies’ growth may be tied to brain abnormalities, study finds
A University of Granada study links poor catch-up growth after EUGR to lasting brain differences in preterm children at age 2.
By Priya Raghavan · Science Reporter
3 min read
Premature babies growth brain abnormalities are the focus of a new University of Granada study that links poor catch-up growth after birth to later structural differences in the brain. The finding matters because the affected areas include regions involved in emotional regulation, according to the researchers.
The study, published in Early Human Development, examined children who had been born very prematurely with very low birth weight and had experienced extrauterine growth restriction, or EUGR. The University of Granada said EUGR affects 37% of premature infants.
Researchers followed development through age 2, giving particular attention to children who did not show optimal catch-up growth. They reported that children who failed to gain enough weight during that early period showed signs of longer-lasting developmental effects.
What is extrauterine growth restriction in premature babies?
Extrauterine growth restriction refers to inadequate growth after birth in babies born prematurely. In the University of Granada study, researchers treated it as a condition that can interrupt expected growth during a period when the brain and other organs are still developing rapidly.
The study found that children with EUGR who did not reach adequate catch-up growth had possible persistent structural abnormalities in brain areas tied to emotional regulation. The researchers highlighted parts of the frontal lobe in particular.
José Uberos Fernández, a professor in the Department of Pediatrics at the University of Granada and an author of the study, said prematurity interrupts the steady nutrient supply that normally continues during pregnancy. He said early and appropriate nutrition is needed to help prevent deficits that may have long-term effects.
Why catch-up growth after premature birth matters
Catch-up growth is the process in which a premature infant gains weight and grows toward expected measures after a difficult start. The University of Granada researchers reported that failure to achieve that growth after EUGR was associated with changes that could persist beyond the neonatal period.
The findings add evidence to a clinical area where feeding and nutrition practices for preterm infants still differ, according to the university. The researchers said protocols should support proper growth in the early years, with attention not only to body weight but also to the structure and function of developing organs.
The study does not present a broad treatment plan in the university’s summary, but it points to earlier nutritional support and longer growth monitoring as priorities for this high-risk group. The researchers said monitoring should continue after the newborn period because lack of catch-up growth may carry lasting consequences.
The paper is titled “Impact of catch-up growth on brain structures involved in emotional regulation in preterm children at 2 years of age.” It was authored by J. Uberos and colleagues and published in Early Human Development with DOI 10.1016/j.earlhumdev.2026.106550.
This story draws on original reporting from Medical Xpress.