Because of major improvements in neonatal healthcare, children who are born prematurely or have birth injuries are much more likely to survive than they were a few decades ago. Researchers have begun to wonder how the incidence of disabilities stemming from birth-related complications has changed over time, and whether this has been impacted by the…
Hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy (HIE) is a brain injury caused by insufficient oxygenated blood flow to the brain at or near the time of delivery. There are many potential causes of HIE, including high-risk pregnancy conditions, labor and delivery issues, and medical mistakes. Recent studies have sought to find connections between placental and umbilical cord issues and…
Hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy (HIE), a type of newborn brain damage caused by oxygen deprivation during or around the time of birth, has been linked to a variety of pregnancy conditions. Inna Skarga-Bandurova and colleagues in the Ukraine recently published a study on risk factors for chronic fetal hypoxia (i.e. long-term oxygen deprivation). They analyzed data from…
Recent studies in rats indicate that resveratrol (RESV), a natural polyphenol compound, may be useful in minimizing brain damage from hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy (HIE). Studies of resveratrol’s neurological benefits This study, published in November, showed the surprising neuroprotective benefits of resveratrol (1). In the study, 48 seven-day-old rats were broken up into four groups, all of…
Hypothermia therapy, or brain cooling, is the standard treatment for hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy (HIE). It can reduce the extent of permanent brain damage if given very shortly after birth or the oxygen-depriving incident (within six hours, though there may be some benefit from the therapy up to 24 hours). Using a cooling cap or blanket, the…
The STAR Institute for Sensory Processing Disorder (SPD) defines sensory processing as “the way the nervous system receives messages from the senses and turns them into appropriate motor and behavioral responses” (1). SPD occurs when these sensory signals are not detected by the brain or are not matched with the correct responses. This can cause…
Each month, we’re donating to a pediatric fund at Michigan Medicine, the healthcare system run by the University of Michigan. This month, we turn our support towards ataxia research conducted by the Neurology Department. Michigan Medicine provides high-quality care to patients, educates future scientists and physicians, and conducts research into new treatments and therapies. Neurology…
What Is Therapeutic Hypothermia? Therapeutic hypothermia has proven effectiveness in minimizing permanent brain damage after hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy, or HIE. HIE is a type of brain injury caused by a lack of oxygenated blood flow. In infants, it can occur due to complications in late pregnancy, birth, or the neonatal period. What Do We Already Know…
Hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy (HIE) is a type of birth injury that occurs when an baby’s brain is deprived of oxygenated blood at or around the time of birth. HIE is a major cause of neurological damage in term and near-term infants, and accounts for about 25% of deaths during the neonatal period. Even short durations of…
Currently, the only available treatment for hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy (HIE), besides supportive care and therapy to mitigate the symptoms, is hypothermia therapy. This involves cooling a baby down to a below-normal temperature in order to allow the brain to recover from a hypoxic-ischemic injury and limit the spread of damage. Hypothermia therapy is known to reduce…
