New mothers could help protect other babies’ brains

(© Image: Unsplash) The placenta from mothers of healthy newborns could one day be used to reduce brain injury in growth-restricted babies, according to University of Queensland research. Dr Julie Wixey from UQ's Centre for Clinical Research said the study found stem cells sourced from a healthy placenta may reduce damaging inflammation in these babies after only three days. "There is currently no treatment to protect the brains of a growth-restricted baby," Dr Wixey said. "Up to 50 per cent of them have long term issues ranging from mild learning and behavioural disorders all the way through to cerebral palsy. "We know there's inflammation in the brain and it doesn't cease once these babies are born. "Our study has shown we could reduce inflammation and ongoing brain injury by treating these newborns on the day they're born using a combination of two types of stem cells - endothelial colony forming cells and mesenchymal stromal cells - isolated from a healthy human placenta." About 32 million growth-restricted babies are born around the world each year, with around 10 per cent of newborns in Australia affected. These babies fail to grow normally in the womb, often because they haven't received enough nutrients and oxygen from the placenta.