Schneider J, et al. - Researchers aim to assess if procedural pain and glucose exposure are associated with altered structural and functional brain development differently in preterm males and females, and neurodevelopment at 18-month corrected age. The very preterm neonates studied with serial MRIs suggest that structural and functional brain development is vulnerable to early-life repetitive exposure to procedural pain, especially in females. The adverse impact of pain on brain development appear not reducing with the glucose use for analgesia. Findings reveal an association between pain and glucose with neurodevelopment indicating long-lasting impact of these factors.