Brain Chemical Ratios Help Predict Developmental Delays in Preterm Infants
Although more and more infants are surviving preterm births, they remain at high risk for a variety of developmental delays. A new study published in the journal Radiology shows that two ratios of neurochemicals can predict which preemies are at the most risk for motor developmental delays.
Scientists at University College London followed 43 infants born at less than 32 weeks gestation for one year. When the infants reached full gestational age, the researchers performed both MRI scans and MR spectroscopy scans. At one year of age, the babies were assessed on motor and cognitive development. The researchers found that an increased choline/creatine ratio and decreased decreased N-acetylaspartate/choline ratio at birth were significantly associated with motor delays at one year.
Scientists hope that these results give physicians a better way to assess the efficacy of interventions for premature infants and target those children at highest need for intensive help.
Source and further reading:
http://www2.rsna.org/timssnet/media/pressreleases/pr_target.cfm?ID=728
Journal article: White Matter NAA/Cho and Cho/Cr Ratios at MR Spectroscopy Are Predictive of Motor Outcome in Preterm Infants. Radiology, 2013. doi: 10.1148/radiol.13122679
Story via Neuroscience Research Techniques
Image via Wikimedia Commons
One year is not too early for the infants who were born before week 30 of gestation.
ReplyDeleteFor the ones delivered after this week, you are right Perry J. Greenbaum .
Perry J. Greenbaum this study is good for infants delivered between week 18 to 25 of gestation. Of course I agree with what you said....but let's not look at the limits of the preterm delivery.
ReplyDeleteWe both know that preterms starting with 29 week of gestation are catching up in their own rhythm.