There is no universally accepted explanation for this drop as of August 2020. Hypotheses include additional rest and support for expectant mothers staying at home, less air pollution due to shutdowns and reduced car fumes, and reduced likelihood of catching other diseases and viruses in general due to the lockdowns. Research
Brain injury is common among preterms, ranging from white matter injury to intraventricular and cerebellar haemorrhages. The characteristic neuropathology of preterms has been described as the "encephalopathy of prematurity". The number of preterms that receive special education is doubled compared to the general population. School marks are lower and so are verbal learning, executive function, language skills, and memory performance scores, as well as IQ scores. Behaviourally, adolescents who were born very preterm and/or very low birth weight have similar self-reports of quality of life, health status and self-esteem as term controls.Various structural magnetic resonance studies found consistent reductions in whole brain volume. The extensive list of particular regions with smaller volumes compared to controls includes many cortical areas (temporal, frontal, parietal, occipital and cingulate), the hippocampal regions, thalamus, basal ganglia, amygdala, brain stem, internal capsule, corpus callosum and cerebellum. Brain volume reduction seems to be present throughout the whole brain. In contrast, larger volumes were found in some of the same areas including medial/anterior frontal, parietal and temporal cortex, cerebellum, middle temporal gyrus, parahippocampal gyrus, and fusiform gyrus, as well as larger lateral ventricles on average. The cause of these inconsistencies are unknown.
Familial exudative vitreoretinopathy (FEVR, pronounced as fever) is a genetic disorder affecting the growth and development of blood vessels in the retina of the eye. This disease can lead to visual impairment and sometimes complete blindness in one or both eyes. FEVR is characterized by incomplete vascularization of the peripheral retina. This can lead to the growth of new blood vessels which are prone to leakage and hemorrhage and can cause retinal folds, tears, and detachments. Treatment involves laser photocoagulation of the avascular portions of the retina to reduce new blood vessel growth and risk of complications including leakage of retinal blood vessels and retinal detachments. Information
Pathophysiology
FEVR is caused by genetic defects involving the regulation of blood vessel growth in developing eyes. As a result, there is poor blood vessel growth to the periphery of the retina. The lack of blood supply to the peripheral retina triggers the release of molecules that stimulate blood vessel growth, such as vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF). However, this new blood vessel growth, also known as neovascularization, can lead to further complications such as the leakage and hemorrhage of retinal blood vessels, retinal tears, and detachments.Genetics
There have been several gene mutations associated with FEVR. These genes code for proteins involved in the WNT signaling pathway, which is involved in the development of the human eye and regulation of blood vessel growth. Depending on the genes involved, FEVR can follow an autosomal dominant, autosomal recessive, or X-linked inheritance pattern. There is varying penetrance and expressivity depending on the genes involved.