Fidgety babies = healthy babies.European researchers are touting a nonintrusive method of discerning brain damage in newborns. Heinz F. R. Prechtl of Karl Franzens University of Graz The University of Graz (German, Karl-Franzens-Universität Graz), a university located in Graz, Austria, is the second-largest university in Austria. Karl-Franzens Universität, also referred to as the University of Graz, is the city's oldest university, founded in , Austria, and his colleagues used ultrasound brain imaging to categorize cat·e·go·rize tr.v. cat·e·go·rized, cat·e·go·riz·ing, cat·e·go·riz·es To put into a category or categories; classify. cat 130 premature infants premature infant Prematurity, premie; preterm infant Obstetrics An infant born before the 37th wk of gestation and after the 20th wk, who weighs 500–2500 g. See Very-low birth weight. in Austria, Italy, Germany, and the Netherlands as being at high risk or low risk for neurological neurological, neurologic pertaining to or emanating from the nervous system or from neurology. neurological assessment evaluation of the health status of a patient with a nervous system disorder or dysfunction. damage. The researchers videotaped each infant for I hour every week until the babies were discharged from the hospital and then for 15 minutes every 3 to 4 weeks until age 24 months. Of babies with normal fidgeting, 96 percent were diagnosed as neurologically sound. Of babies that didn't fidget fidg·et v. fidg·et·ed, fidg·et·ing, fidg·ets v.intr. 1. To behave or move nervously or restlessly. 2. much or showed abnormal, abrupt writhing movements, 95 percent had brain damage, the researchers report in the May 10 Lancet. Recording babies' movements yielded more accurate predictions of brain damage than the ultrasound measures did, say the researchers. They view the filming technique as a cost-effective way to identify babies requiring early therapy. |
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