As a result of Action-funded work, premature babies, cared for in neonatal intensive care units (NICU) could benefit from improved sleep patterns, helping their growth and development. This research has led to a follow-on study, which will provide further evidence on how noise on the NICU is one of the biggest factors leading to disturbed sleep for these vulnerable babies.
Around 55,000 babies are born prematurely in the UK each year. While advances in treatment have led to improved survival, preterm babies have an increased risk of long-term neurodevelopmental complications. There are many reasons for this, but there is evidence to suggest an important relationship between the development of brain connections and the natural cycling between sleep states.
In the NICU a premature baby has to endure frequent and often painful medical procedures, bright lights and loud noises, all of which can interrupt the natural sleep cycles essential for healthy brain development. This interruption could have a significant impact on the development of brain networks and ultimately affect babies' long-term outcomes.
Supported by Action, researchers based at Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, developed a new way to study sleep cycles and their link to brain development in preterm and full-term babies.
Led by Professor Topun Austin, the team used a non-invasive imaging system, with a lightweight, flexible cap worn on the baby’s head to track blood flow in the brain. This study was the first to demonstrate wearable technology for cot-side neuroimaging for newborn infants.
The team found significant differences in functional connectivity between neonatal sleep states and is now continuing the work in a follow-on study, called the Sound(a)Sleep study, which hopes to develop a clinical system to promote sleep cycling and help brain development in these vulnerable babies.
Professor Austin said: “Sleep, although something all newborn babies spend a lot of time doing, is very under-researched and being able to demonstrate a connection between sleep states and brain development provides an important evidence base to focus on protecting sleep in the newborn infant.”
If these results are replicated, it will provide further evidence that sleep must be protected and monitored on the NICU. This work will have a major beneficial impact on the way infants are cared for in neonatal units”