Preterm Infants, Babies at Greater Risk for Neurodevelopmental Disorders & A New Study Reveals Just Why

A study revealed that about 450,000 infants in the United States were born preterm, or 37 weeks prior to gestation in 2012, according to Medical News Today.

The article further revealed that preterm infants were the babies who suffered the most neurological disabilities in the United States. Compared to their peers, these children are more prone to suffer from cerebral palsy, autism, and attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).

Efforts are now being made as to discovering the accurate facts surrounding neurological or developmental disabilities developing in preterm babies. The Centre for the Developing Brain at King's College's Prof. David Edwards said state-of-the-art scientifically-based technology has made this discovery possible. This technology has been an effective tool used in studying pre-term babies' brain connectivity and development.

"We are now able to observe brain development in babies as they grow, and this is likely to produce remarkable benefits for medicine," Edwards said.

Dr. Toulmin and his research team revealed these findings to show the causes of the development of neurodevelopmental disorders among preterm babies.

"Among the preterm infants the team identified reduced connectivity between areas of the thalamus and areas of the cortex associated with higher cognitive function. This may explain why preterm babies are at greater risk of neurodevelopmental problems later in childhood," the team said.

The head researcher, Dr. Toulmin, and his group's next mission is to discover how learning and developmental growth transpire among preterm infants as they age.

Meanwhile, JSOnline.com reported that preterm birth has taken the lives of more infants in Milwaukee than any other mortality causes. In fact, the article published on the site revealed that about 84 babies in this city passed away before they turned a year old in 2014.

"The specific causes of death for each of these 84 babies have not yet been fully analyzed," said Milwaukee Health Commissioner, Bevan Baker.

Milwaukee mayor, Tom Barrett, stated that more efforts are yet to be invested to improve the survival of preterm babies in his city. "The racial disparity in birth outcomes remains unacceptable and the rate of improvement remains inadequate," he said. "We must continue to do more."

United Way president and CEO, Mary Lou Young, said, "Our vision is to eliminate the racial disparity in birth outcomes, ensuring every baby reaches their first birthday."

She added, "Our greatest opportunity to improve birth outcomes is to focus on prematurity and on addressing the conditions that lead to premature births."

However, another study found that preterm babies at 22 weeks who received appropriate medical treatment suffer little health problems, according to The New York Times.

Dr. David Burchfield, a University of Florida neonatology chief observed that this "confirms that if you don't do anything, these babies will not make it, and if you do something, some of them will make it,"

He elucidated, "Many who have survived have survived with severe handicaps."

Burchfield was not involved in the research conducted.