Long-Term Effects of Kangaroo Mother Care on Neuromotor Development in Adults Born Preterm: A Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation Study.

AIM: To assess long-term effects of Kangaroo Mother Care (KMC) on motor development in adults born with birth weights ≤ 1800 g, compared to conventional neonatal care.

METHODS

This cohort analysis included 214 young adults with a history of birth weights ≤ 1800 g, mostly preterm, originally enrolled in a randomized controlled trial between 1993 and 1994 evaluating KMC. Motor system development was assessed using transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) to measure corticospinal excitability and interhemispheric communication. Fine motor skills were evaluated with the Nine Hole Peg Test (9HPT). A 50 term-born normal birth weight reference group provided TMS values to evaluate KMC effectiveness.

RESULTS

Individuals with history of birth weights ≤ 1800 g, regardless of exposition to KMC, demonstrated longer completion times on the 9HPT and reduced grip strength compared to normative values. No significant differences in TMS measures were found between groups. However, in a multivariate logistic regression model, KMC was associated with a 78% effectiveness (95% confidence interval-CI: 4%-95%) on preventing the altered transcallosal conduction time.

CONCLUSION

Motor deficits related to low birth weight (LBW) persist into adulthood. KMC may contribute to avoid interhemispheric motor connectivity issues in individuals with birth weights ≤ 1800 g, highlighting its potential for long-term neurodevelopmental benefit.