Fig. 1.

Timeline of the study. Preterm infants born between 25⁺⁰ and 29⁺⁶ weeks gestational age (GA) were recruited. At birth, cord blood samples were collected. One week after birth, preterm infants were randomized to either receive standard care or early intervention during NICU stay. At term equivalent age (40 weeks GA), before NICU discharge, peripheral blood samples were harvested. At 12 months corrected age and at 36 months chronological age neurodevelopmental assessment was performed. L1 promoter methylation analysis was performed on genomic DNA extracted from cord blood and peripheral blood