A recent study led by Inserm, France’s national institute for health research, has found that children born prematurely continue to experience behavioral and academic challenges by the time they reach ten years old. The findings, published in the journal eClinicalMedicine, highlight the long-term impacts of early birth on children's development, emphasizing the need for ongoing support and care. Researchers compared data from 2,181 children born prematurely with 7,286 children born at full term. The study used information gathered from telephone interviews with parents, providing insights into the children's behavioral and academic progress. The research shows that 16% of children born prematurely face behavioral issues such as difficulties with emotional regulation and attention, compared to 12% of full-term children. Among extremely premature children—those born between 24 and 26 weeks of gestation—nearly half (47%) require at least one healthcare service related to developmental challenges. For children born moderately premature (between 32 and 34 weeks), about a third (32%) need similar support. These findings underscore how the degree of prematurity significantly influences a child’s neurodevelopment. However, the study also notes that about half of the premature children originally included in the research were lost to follow-up by the time they reached ten years old. Many of these children came from socially disadvantaged backgrounds and may have had neurodevelopmental challenges, which could have slightly underestimated the actual difficulties faced by premature children. Researchers have attempted to correct this bias using statistical methods, but the issue remains a challenge for future studies. At school, nearly one in four (23%) of children born prematurely require academic support, a rate nearly double that of full-term children. These children are also more likely to repeat grades and less likely to engage in social activities such as sports, celebrating birthdays with friends, or attending sleepovers. Dr. Véronique Pierrat, lead author of the study, emphasized the importance of personalized follow-up for families of premature children. Currently, follow-up care in France is recommended up to age 7, but it varies by region and resources, and moderately premature children are often excluded. While the study highlights the impact of prematurity, Dr. Stéphane Marret noted that other factors, such as psychosocial stress and family hardship, also play a role in children’s development. Professor Pierre-Yves Ancel, who led the research team, called for future studies to focus on premature children born in recent years, as medical practices and societal conditions continue to evolve. This ongoing research is essential to better understand and address the long-term needs of premature children and their families.