The Relationships between Cardiovascular, Cerebrovascular and Cognitive Outcomes in Young Adults born Very Preterm and at Term

Individuals born very preterm (<32 weeks’ gestation) can continue to experience cognitive challenges in early adulthood. This thesis explored cerebral blood flow (CBF) and blood pressure (BP) as potential contributing factors to cognitive outcomes (e.g., memory). The thesis demonstrated that regardless of birth group, high BP was related to poorer IQ and visual memory. The relationships between CBF and cognition differed across birth groups, likely reflecting abnormal brain development. CBF-cognition relationships did not differ by BP levels. Overall, findings highlight the importance of monitoring BP across the lifespan and ongoing exploration of CBF–BP–cognition relationships leading up to midlife.