Cerebellar development and prematurity

Many of these observations come from the following paper: Spoto et al. 2021

• The human cerebellum develops over a long time, extending from early embryonic period until the first postnatal years. Most of its volume increases during the last trimester of pregnancy, which is considered a critical period for cerebellar development
• Last few months of gestation are the time during which the cerebellar nuclei start to form their major afferents and efferents from/to cerebral cortices and subcortical structures and this development continues during the first years after birth
• Developmental diaschisis idea: cerebellar connections with contralateral cerebral cortices (specifically DLPFC) are well established - an interruption of this circuit between areas of the CNS may determine a diaschisis - a functional impairment of the region linked to the one subject of a structural lesion
• Cerebellar injury in preterms:
  • Cerebellar underdevelopment (cerebellar atrophy/hypoplasia)
  • Destructive cerebellar lesions (primary and focal injury, hemorrhage or infarction)
  • What causes cerebellar underdevelopment in preterm babies?
  • Blood products (hemosiderin)
  • Perinatal glucocorticoid exposure
  • Opioids and pain
  • Inadequate nutrition
  • Infections
  • Inflammations
  • Hypoxic-ischemic insults
  • Cerebral brain injuries
  • socioeconomic status
• What causes destructive cerebellar lesions?
  • Cerebellar hemorrhage
  • Cerebellar infarction