Preemies at high risk of autism don’t show typical signs of disorder in early infancy
Premature babies are at an increased risk for developing autism spectrum disorder. But a small study indicates that preemies who avoid eye contact are less likely to demonstrate symptoms of autism at age 2 than preemies who maintain eye contact during early interactions, according to new research at the School of Medicine.
Study suggests private NICU rooms may influence preemies’ development
Premature babies often spend their first months of life in neonatal intensive care units (NICUs) — environments that, in recent years, have seen transformations, with hospitals adding private rooms to NICUs in place of open wards. But research at the School of Medicine adds new information to the discussion over what is the optimal setting for infants in the NICU. Shown is the study’s first author, Bobbi Pineda, PhD, in the NICU at St. Louis Children’s Hospital.
Baby brain growth mirrors changes from apes to humans
A study undertaken to help scientists concerned with abnormal brain development in premature babies has serendipitously revealed evolution’s imprint on the human brain.