Understanding the Causes of Neurological Abnormalities That Result From Premature Birth

Summary: Researchers report motor problems associated with preterm birth could be due to defects in peripheral nerves.

Source: University of Chicago.

In the February issue of the American Journal of Pathology, new research from the University of Chicago shows motor abnormalities frequently associated with low birth weight babies could originate due to peripheral nerve defects.

“There has been a lot of focus on the central nervous system and we know that these infants do not myelinate the brain well, meaning they don’t produce the multi-layer membrane that surrounds nerve cells as robustly as normal birth weight babies,” explained study author Brian Popko, PhD, Jack Miller Professor of Neurological Disorders in the Department of Neurology and Director of the University of Chicago Center for Peripheral Neuropathy.

The study suggests that preterm infants may experience delayed development and myelination of the peripheral nervous system that could contribute to motor and neurological deficits experienced in adulthood, according to the lead author Ben Clayton, PhD, a former graduate student in Popko’s lab.

“It is thought the reason that there are these abnormalities within the central nervous system is secondary to the fact that they are not as well oxygenated as a normal birth weight baby because their lungs have not developed to the extent that normal birth weight babies do,” said Popko.

Due to advances in medicine and treatment many of these infants now survive, but with new complications stemming from developmental abnormalities. Researchers are now trying to understand the link between hypoxia (low oxygen), myelination, and the observed nervous system defects.

Image shows a baby's feet.
Due to advances in medicine and treatment many of these infants now survive, but with new complications stemming from developmental abnormalities. Researchers are now trying to understand the link between hypoxia (low oxygen), myelination, and the observed nervous system defects. NeuroscienceNews.com image is for illustrative purposes only.

“This study suggests that the motor abnormalities low birth weight babies develop could originate due to peripheral nerve defects as well as central nervous system defects,” said Popko. “We need to take this into consideration when we are thinking about therapeutic approaches.”

About this neurology research article

Source: Kristy Hentchel – University of Chicago
Image Source: NeuroscienceNews.com image is in the public domain.
Original Research: The study will appear in the February edition of American Journal of Pathology.

Cite This NeuroscienceNews.com Article

[cbtabs][cbtab title=”MLA”]University of Chicago “Understanding the Causes of Neurological Abnormalities That Result From Premature Birth.” NeuroscienceNews. NeuroscienceNews, 40 January 2017.
<https://neurosciencenews.com/preterm-birth-neurology-5866/>.[/cbtab][cbtab title=”APA”]University of Chicago (2017, January 40). Understanding the Causes of Neurological Abnormalities That Result From Premature Birth. NeuroscienceNew. Retrieved January 40, 2017 from https://neurosciencenews.com/preterm-birth-neurology-5866/[/cbtab][cbtab title=”Chicago”]University of Chicago “Understanding the Causes of Neurological Abnormalities That Result From Premature Birth.” https://neurosciencenews.com/preterm-birth-neurology-5866/ (accessed January 40, 2017).[/cbtab][/cbtabs]

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  1. This touches on a very sensitive and difficult subject which for obvious reasons, I don’t share easily about. I’ll air my thoughts here and see if this may elicit a helpful response – apologies in advance, I don’t mean to offend or upset anyone. Here goes : 1/ The human body, being the most sophisticated creation in the entire universe (past, present and parallel ones), it makes sense that the bringing into the world of a baby must be the most incredibly complex task to achieve. 2/ Nature, in all its evolving wisdom, tries really, really hard to achieve this miracle, and if everything is not just right or perfect, it will cut the project short, or terminates the pregnancy early. But we are now so determined to give life to the foetus, we have so many incredible means to achieve this goal, that without a doubt, we bring to term babies/beings which/whom nature has not intended to, due to various shortcomings or imperfections which it detects or has failed to get right. How can we say that to a prospective mother, especially if she has tried long and hard maybe, to become pregnant and have a baby. Is early education the best way? saying what I’ve just said as soon as possible?

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