Preterm Birth Complications Linked With Lower Dopamine Levels In Adults

Adults who were born prematurely, and also suffered small brain injuries around the time of birth, have lower brain levels of dopamine, new King’s College London research reports.



Preterm Infants

Thirteen million infants are born too early every year. Improved care allows many to survive, but these “preterm infants” still face an increased risk of death and many other complications.

Infants born very early, before 32 weeks, are at risk of brain injury because the brain is normally still developing in the later stages of pregnancy. They also have an increased risk of developing mental health problems later in life.


Whole striatal dopamine synthesis capacity by group.

Whole striatal dopamine synthesis capacity by group.
Credit: Sean Froudist-Walsh et al. CC-BY

Although the biological link between birth complications and greater risk of mental health issues is unclear, one theory is that the stress of a complicated birth could lead to increased levels of dopamine.

Dopamine is a chemical messenger in the brain that reinforces rewarding behaviour. People with schizophrenia and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) have abnormal levels of dopamine.

Early Brain Development





Further studies may help scientists understand how early brain injuries may cause brain chemical differences later in life, and how these brain changes affect individual’s mental health. They may also help scientists develop treatments to prevent or treat mental illness in people who experienced a brain injury after a very early birth.

Sean Froudist-Walsh, Michael AP Bloomfield, Mattia Veronese, Jasmin Kroll, Vyacheslav R Karolis, Sameer Jauhar, Ilaria Bonoldi, Philip K McGuire, Shitij Kapur, Robin M Murray, Chiara Nosarti, Oliver Howes
eLife (2017). DOI: 10.7554/eLife.29088

Top Image: RCSB Protein Data Bank, Wellcome Images