| Summary: | Background. While children born very preterm (gestation <32 weeks) have an increased risk of cognitive impairment compared to full-term children (39-41 weeks), the risk for children born moderately (32-33 weeks) to late preterm (34-36 weeks) and early term (37-38 weeks) is unclear. This study describes the relationship between gestational age and cognitive outcomes at 11 years and the trajectory of deficits in verbal ability from age 3-11 years. <br/> Methods. Cognitive ability was assessed using the Spatial Working Memory Test from the Cambridge Neuropsychological Test Automated Working Battery (n=11,395) and British Ability Scale Verbal Similarities test (n=11,889) in the UK Millennium Cohort Study. Each gestational group was compared with the full-term group using differences in z-scores and odds ratios for delay (scoring ≥1 SD below the mean). <br/> Results. Very and moderately preterm children demonstrated significantly lower working memory scores compared to full-term children (adjusted difference -0.2 to -0.6) and were more likely to be delayed. There was no significant relationship between late preterm or early term birth and working memory (adjusted differences < -0.1), or between gestational age and verbal ability at 11 years. There appears to be a general attenuation in odds ratios as the child ages. <br/> Conclusion. Very preterm children exhibited working memory deficits at 11 years. However, the absence of delayed verbal skills at 11 years despite earlier delays could indicate ‘catch-up’ effects.
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