{
  "abstract": "Background: Infants with extremely low birth weight (ELBW) are at high risk for neurodevelopmental impairment, but the relationship between cerebellar structure and later developmental outcome remains incompletely defined. Methods: In this retrospective single-center study, we examined total cerebellar volume on clinically acquired brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in ELBW infants while accounting for postmenstrual age (PMA) at imaging. Results: Of 65 infants screened, 42 were included. Mean gestational age at birth was 25.54 {+/-} 1.68 weeks, mean birth weight was 733.2 {+/-} 118.7 g, and mean PMA at MRI was 43.02 {+/-} 6.53 weeks (range, 31.57--68.00). Mean cerebellar volume was 22.17 {+/-} 9.63 cm. Independently adjudicated developmental outcomes comprised normal development in 16 infants, isolated or specific impairment in 12, and moderate/severe impairment in 14. Unadjusted cerebellar volumes did not differ across developmental groups (P = 0.490) or qualitative MRI categories (P = 0.875). However, the PMA-by-developmental-category interaction was significant (P = 0.002), with estimated cross-sectional slopes of 1.72, 1.56, and 0.39 cm per week, respectively. The interaction remained significant within 36--46 weeks PMA (n = 29; P = 0.011) and after adjustment for small-for-gestational-age (SGA) status. Sensitivity analyses indicated uncertainty in the stability of the interaction. Conclusions: These findings suggest that age-informed cerebellar volumetric patterns may provide developmental information not evident from average volumes alone and support prospective validation with standardized imaging and developmental assessments. As a result, cerebellar volumes obtained early in life may hold prognostic information for ELBW infants.",
  "abstract_shown": true,
  "affiliations": [
    "Baylor College of Medicine"
  ],
  "article_type": "New results",
  "arxiv": null,
  "author_total": 8,
  "authors": [
    {
      "name": "L. Yao"
    },
    {
      "name": "A. M. Brown"
    },
    {
      "name": "J. Park"
    },
    {
      "name": "S. Lazar"
    },
    {
      "name": "S. Kralik"
    },
    {
      "name": "C. J. Rhee"
    },
    {
      "name": "R. V. Sillitoe"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        0
      ],
      "name": "J. S. Gill"
    }
  ],
  "bibtex": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/641vqsey8gxdf.bib",
  "cited_by": 0,
  "doi": "10.64898/2026.09.29.755417",
  "fulltext_url": "https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.64898/2026.09.29.755417v1.full",
  "id": "641vqsey8gxdf",
  "issns": [],
  "landing_url": "https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.64898/2026.09.29.755417v1",
  "language": null,
  "licence": "CC-BY",
  "licence_label": "CC BY",
  "licence_source": "article",
  "licence_url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/",
  "metadata_licence": null,
  "native_subjects": [
    [
      "biorxiv",
      "neuroscience"
    ],
    [
      "openalex",
      "2735|Neonatal and fetal brain pathology"
    ]
  ],
  "openalex": "W7215751355",
  "pdf_url": "https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.64898/2026.09.29.755417v1.full.pdf",
  "pmcid": null,
  "pmid": null,
  "published": "2026-09-29",
  "publisher": null,
  "ris": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/641vqsey8gxdf.ris",
  "sources": [
    {
      "first_seen": "2026-10-30T12:25:45Z",
      "native_id": "10.64898/2026.09.29.755417",
      "source": "biorxiv",
      "url": "https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.64898/2026.09.29.755417v1"
    }
  ],
  "subjects": [
    {
      "field": "biology",
      "origin": "biorxiv:neuroscience",
      "subfield": "neuroscience"
    }
  ],
  "title": "Age-Adjusted Cerebellar Volumetry and Developmental Outcomes in Extremely Low Birth Weight Infants",
  "title_text": "Age-Adjusted Cerebellar Volumetry and Developmental Outcomes in Extremely Low Birth Weight Infants",
  "type": "preprint",
  "updated_at": "2026-10-30T12:25:45Z",
  "url": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/641vqsey8gxdf",
  "venue": "bioRxiv",
  "versions": []
}