Reducing the risk of cerebral palsy in preemies

According to the research study results from the University of North Carolina, new research indicates that the risk of cerebral palsy could be cut in half with the addition of a common substance in the delivery room.

Established research in cerebral palsy shows that preemies have a higher risk of developing cerebral palsy than 'normal' births. So.. specific research was undertaken to find a way of reducing this particular risk factor.

The research team discovered that administering magnesium sulfate - commonly known as epsom salt - during the delivery process could reduce the possibility of cerebral palsy by half.

One of the study co-authors, Dr. John Thorp (professor of obstetrics and gynecology at the University of North Carolina) thinks that this finding has great practical use.

"...what we have learned from this study is that we have a cheap, widely available treatment already in hand that cuts in half the risk of babies being born with an extremely disabling disorder. That is a tremendously exciting development,” Thorp said.

While this news won't help those who already have cerebral palsy, it's good to know that we can start taking active measures to reduce the incidence of cerebral palsy going forward.

And for that, we should be grateful.