UQ Centre for Clinical Research and the Perinatal Research Centre Director Professor Paul Colditz.
A University of Queensland study into how premature babies' brains develop will lead to the earlier diagnosis of brain impairment in preterm children.
Babies born preterm are at risk of cerebral palsy, mild motor impairment, cognitive deficits and educational difficulties, with very preterm babies also risking developmental disabilities.
Researchers used medical imaging techniques to map the brain wiring of preterm babies when they had reached their expected birth date, and compared them to the brain connections of full-term born babies.
UQ Centre for Clinical Research and the Perinatal Research Centre Director Professor Paul Colditz said the mapping found a number of differences in brain wiring in preterm babies.
"Most importantly, connections between the large deep gray matter structures – areas of the brain which are associated with memory, verbal comprehension and higher cognitive function – were found to be altered," Professor Colditz said.
"In the past these deficits were often found later in preterm children and adults.
"By using a MRI Neonatal incubator specifically designed for babies we can now conduct imaging of preterm babies' brains to diagnose brain impairment much earlier.
"Prior to this, using MRI posed too many risks.
"MRI brain wiring studies will underpin the development and testing of safe new interventions for our vulnerable pre-term babies, ensuring all babies are born with the best possible chance of leading a normal life."
The results from the study have been published in the PLOS ONE journal.
Explore further: Study suggests late-term preemies don't do as well in life
More information: www.plosone.org/article/info%3Adoi%2F10.1371%2Fjournal.pone.0068593
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© Medical Xpress 2011-2013, Phys.org network
UQ Centre for Clinical Research and the Perinatal Research Centre Director Professor Paul Colditz.
A University of Queensland study into how premature babies' brains develop will lead to the earlier diagnosis of brain impairment in preterm children.
Babies born preterm are at risk of cerebral palsy, mild motor impairment, cognitive deficits and educational difficulties, with very preterm babies also risking developmental disabilities.
Researchers used medical imaging techniques to map the brain wiring of preterm babies when they had reached their expected birth date, and compared them to the brain connections of full-term born babies.
UQ Centre for Clinical Research and the Perinatal Research Centre Director Professor Paul Colditz said the mapping found a number of differences in brain wiring in preterm babies.
"Most importantly, connections between the large deep gray matter structures – areas of the brain which are associated with memory, verbal comprehension and higher cognitive function – were found to be altered," Professor Colditz said.
"In the past these deficits were often found later in preterm children and adults.
"By using a MRI Neonatal incubator specifically designed for babies we can now conduct imaging of preterm babies' brains to diagnose brain impairment much earlier.
"Prior to this, using MRI posed too many risks.
"MRI brain wiring studies will underpin the development and testing of safe new interventions for our vulnerable pre-term babies, ensuring all babies are born with the best possible chance of leading a normal life."
The results from the study have been published in the PLOS ONE journal.
Explore further: Study suggests late-term preemies don't do as well in life
More information: www.plosone.org/article/info%3Adoi%2F10.1371%2Fjournal.pone.0068593
Medical Xpress on facebook
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Study suggests late-term preemies don't do as well in life
Oct 02, 2013
(HealthDay)—Babies born between four and six weeks early are more likely than full-term babies to suffer a lifetime of socioeconomic disadvantages, Finnish researchers report.
One in three premature babies fare less well at school
Oct 17, 2013
New research shows that almost one in three children born prematurely (before 37 weeks) have lower Key Stage 1 (KS1) test results than children who are born at full term (37-42 weeks) and more than a third ...
Does a bigger brain make for a smarter child in babies born prematurely?
Oct 12, 2011
New research suggests the growth rate of the brain's cerebral cortex in babies born prematurely may predict how well they are able to think, speak, plan and pay attention later in childhood. The research is published in the ...
New research finds slower growth of preterm infants linked to altered brain development
Jan 16, 2013
(Medical Xpress)—Preterm infants who grow more slowly as they approached what would have been their due dates also have slower development in an area of the brain called the cerebral cortex, report Canadian researchers ...
750,000 preterm babies die unnecessarily each year, UN reports
Nov 16, 2012
The lives of at least 750,000 premature babies could be saved every year by taking simple and inexpensive steps to limit preterm birth, the world's largest killer of newborns, UN health experts said Friday.
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7 hours ago
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Timing of first dose of measles vaccine questioned
14 hours ago
(HealthDay)—Children who receive the first dose of a two-dose schedule of measles vaccine at 12 to 13 months compared with 15 months or later have a greater risk of developing measles, according to a study ...
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15 hours ago
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