About 15 million babies are born prematurely around the world each year and many suffer brain injuries when their immune response goes into overdrive. Researchers have now discovered an immune control switch that could protect their brains from this damaging hyperactive response. Promising results from pre-clinical trials of a potential treatment show the brain’s immune cells could be successfully targeted with drugs to control their harmful overactive behavior.

Through a series of clinical and pre-clinical studies, an international research team has for the first time worked out how to calm down hyperactive microglia, the brain’s immune cells.

The research points to a potential treatment for reducing brain injury in premature babies, showing microglia could be successfully targeted with drugs to control their harmful overactive behaviour.

The research, conducted over seven years by scientists and clinicians from Australia, France, the United Kingdom, Germany, Singapore and Sweden, is published in the journal Brain.

About 15 million babies are born prematurely around the world each year and rates of preterm birth are increasing in developed countries. In Australia, around 8% of babies are born prematurely (before 37 weeks gestation).

Premature birth is the most common cause of death and disability in children under 5 and up to 60% of babies born too early will have lifelong problems including attention-deficit disorders, autism, cerebral palsy and epilepsy.

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