Summary: Researchers suggest motor problems linked to preterm birth may arise from defects in the peripheral nervous system, not only the brain.
Source: Kristy Hentchel – University of Chicago.
New research from the University of Chicago, published in the February issue of the American Journal of Pathology, indicates that motor abnormalities commonly seen in low birth weight or preterm infants may stem from delayed development and myelination of peripheral nerves as well as defects in the central nervous system.
Researchers have long focused on the immature brain to explain the motor and neurological deficits observed in many babies born prematurely. The brain’s myelination—the formation of the insulating, multi-layer membrane that surrounds nerve fibers—often lags in these infants, and that deficit has been closely associated with later motor problems and cognitive challenges. 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, emphasizes that attention to the central nervous system is warranted, but the new findings highlight an additional and underappreciated contributor: the peripheral nervous system.
The study’s lead author, Ben Clayton, PhD, a former graduate student in Popko’s laboratory, explains that the peripheral nerves—those that connect the spinal cord and brain to muscles and the rest of the body—may also show delayed development and reduced myelination in preterm infants. Such peripheral deficits could help explain persistent motor impairments that are sometimes attributed solely to central nervous system injury.
One likely factor tying these observations together is hypoxia, or low oxygen levels. Preterm infants often experience insufficient oxygenation because their lungs are not fully developed at birth, and prolonged or repeated episodes of low oxygen can interfere with normal nerve development. Popko notes that hypoxia has been considered a major reason for abnormalities in brain myelination; this new work extends that concern to the peripheral nervous system, suggesting a more systemic vulnerability of developing nerves in premature infants.
Advances in neonatal care have dramatically increased the survival of preterm infants, but these improvements have highlighted long-term developmental challenges that can emerge as these children grow. Understanding whether motor deficits originate in the brain, the peripheral nerves, or both is essential for designing effective therapies and targeted rehabilitation strategies. If peripheral nerve myelination is delayed or disrupted, treatments that focus solely on central nervous system repair may miss an important component of the problem.
Popko and colleagues stress the need to broaden therapeutic thinking. Interventions that promote healthy myelination and protect developing nerves from hypoxic injury—across both central and peripheral systems—could lead to better functional outcomes. The research encourages clinicians and scientists to monitor peripheral nerve development in preterm infants and to consider peripheral-targeted approaches alongside central nervous system therapies when planning long-term care.
Source: Kristy Hentchel – University of Chicago
Image credit: NeuroscienceNews.com image used for illustration.
Original research: Study published in the February issue of the American Journal of Pathology.
Suggested citation: University of Chicago. “Understanding the Causes of Neurological Abnormalities That Result From Premature Birth.” Summary of research published in the American Journal of Pathology.