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How photos of babies鈥� brains are helping medical experts predict the potentially life-altering consequences of premature birth

6 February 2019

In the UK 6-7% of all births happen before the 37th week of pregnancy — and the number of premature births is rising. Early births can cause lifelong complications, and lead to conditions such as cerebral palsy, as well as learning and behavioural difficulties.

At Edinburgh’s Jennifer Brown Research Laboratory, scientists are using state-of-the-art technology to investigate why these conditions can occur.

How can a pre-term birth alter child鈥檚 life?

Professor James Boardman on the conditions which can potentially occur.

With parents’ co-operation, the lab’s scientific director Professor James Boardman and his team photograph babies in MRI scanners, a process which results in detailed pictures of their developing brains.

The team then analyse the information by applying computer programs to the pictures. This reveals the changes in brain development that occur during the period of neo-natal intensive care.

Speaking on Brainwaves, Professor Boardman claimed the scientific world is at the “tip of the iceberg” in understanding the impact of early birth. However, research is already yielding results.

“In some cases we can be fairly confident about predicting cerebral palsy. The literature’s only beginning to emerge about predicting other difficulties, such as problems with development and problems with IQ.

“We’re at the forefront of trying to push that knowledge because these questions are at the forefront of parents’ minds.”