The more breast milk premature babies are fed while in neonatal intensive care the greater the level of brain development, a study suggests.
The cerebral cortex - the part of the brain for learning and thinking - is usually underdeveloped in premature babies, but in infants who consumed high levels of breast milk it quickly resembled those of babies born to term.
The research, carried out at the University of Edinburgh, found that feeding premature babies with breast milk could help reduce the developmental and learning problems associated with preterm birth.
Every year, 15 million children worldwide are born preterm - before 37 weeks - and it is still the biggest cause of death and disability among newborn babies.
Children born early are more likely to develop problems that affect their entire lives such as learning difficulties, problems with their sight and hearing, behavioural issues and cerebral palsy
Негізгі бет Breast milk boosts brain development in premature babies
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