OBJECTIVE:To review the current literature about brain growth and development of premature children, as well as the motor and cognitive changes that may result from prematurity. DATA SOURCES: Medline and Lilacs were searched between 2000 and 2007 along with textbooks whose content was relevant. DATA SYNTHESIS: The development of preterm infants differs from term neonates. Studies have shown that children born prematurely have anatomical changes related to cognitive impairments in the central nervous system. Some regions seem vulnerable, such as white and gray matter, corpus callosum, caudate nucleus, hippocampus and cerebellum, when evaluated by volumetric neuroimaging techniques. Thus, one would expect some functional and/or learning impairment in children, adolescents and adults born prematurely. When evaluated in late childhood and adolescence, they show deficits in the intelligence quotient, memory, calculations skills and in the overall cognitive function. Motor coordination, attention, planning and association deficits are also reported in the literature. CONCLUSIONS: Prematurity can lead to structural and anatomical changes of the brain due to interruption of the prenatal development. These changes can cause functional deficits and children born prematurely are more vulnerable to cognitive and motor problems as well as its effects on their daily activities, even in adolescence and adulthood.
cognition disorders; child development; infant; premature