Recent Study - Small Birth Weight Babies may have Mental Health Issues In Adulthood

Scientists have discovered the first evidence linking brain function variations between the left and right sides of the brain to size the babies size at birth and the weight of the placenta. The finding could shed new light on the causes of mental health problems in later life.

The Study

The research, conducted at the University of Southampton and the Medical Research Council (MRC) Lifecourse Epidemiology Unit at Southampton General Hospital, reveals that children who were born small, with relatively large placentas, showed more activity on the right side of their brains than the left. It is this pattern of brain activity that has been linked with mood disorders such as depression and anxiety disorders.

The Results

“The neurological responses of 140 children from Southampton, ages eight and nine, were monitored for the study. Tests evaluated blood flow to the brain in response to increased brain activity, exposing differences in the activity of the two sides. Dr Jones measured tiny fluctuations in the temperature of the tympanic membrane in each ear, which indicate blood flow into different parts of the brain. Disproportionate growth of the placenta and the fetus is thought to occur in pregnancies where the mother has been experiencing stress or where there have been problems with the availability of nutrients.”

Conclusion

In hopes of finding this new evidence hopefully there will be treatments available to prevent these conditions and save these babies from a lifetime of mental health disorders.

Conclusion: http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2011-02/uos-bfl021811.php