Postnatal growth may be associated with longitudinal brain development in children born preterm.

We compared brain microstructure and functional connectivity strength with cognitive outcomes in association with postnatal growth among early school-aged children born preterm with extremely low birth weight.

This single-center cohort study prospectively enrolled 38 children 6 to 8 years of age born preterm with extremely low birth weight: 21 with postnatal growth failure (PGF) and 17 without PGF.

Children were enrolled, past records were retrospectively reviewed, and imaging data and cognitive assessments occurred from April 29, 2013, through February 14, 2017.

Image processing and statistical analyses were conducted through November 2021.