2023-06-06 14:55:49
Babies born prematurely are vulnerable and are at risk of developmental delay
Sleep researcher Jeroen Dudink of UMC Utrecht and colleagues have received a grant of more than 400,000 euros. They will use this to study the influence of light on the brain development of premature babies in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU). The target? Providing these children with an appropriate ‘light diet’, so that they can develop optimally.
Babies born prematurely are vulnerable and are at risk of developmental delay. So any advantage doctors can give them is vital. “We always look to nature for inspiration,” says neonatologist Jeroen Dudink. “And in the womb, we know from research, there is a clear day-night rhythm. We are convinced that offering a day-night rhythm helps the unborn child to develop.”
Beds by the window
This conviction led to the idea of studying the influence of daylight on the brain development of premature babies. The Velux Stiftung recognizes the value of the plan and has made more than 400,000 euros available for a research project. Jeroen leads this project, called BabyBright. He is working together with colleague Laura Kervezee of the LUMC, who specializes in the day-night rhythm that every person has (the so-called ‘circadian rhythm’), and Professor Enrico Lopriore of the neonatology department of the LUMC.
The research takes place in two NICUs with different designs, namely those of the UMC Utrecht (WKZ) and the LUMC. “In the project we will measure the light-dark cycles in these two NICUs,” says Jeroen. “Does it matter, for example, that in Leiden almost all beds are near the window, while that is not the case in Utrecht? We also follow the children for a longer period of time, so that we can determine the impact of light on their development.”
Determine optimal exposure
The researchers are looking, among other things, at sleep, growth, the immune system and the development of the babies’ circadian rhythm. They also include the composition of the light, i.e. the color of the light to which the children are exposed, in their analyses. Ultimately, they hope to be able to determine the best lighting conditions for the NICU. Jeroen: “Hopefully, we can offer vulnerable, prematurely born children a better chance of a good start to their lives.”
Bron: UMC Utrecht
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