Pediatricians Might Be Able to Boost Brain Development and IQ in Premature Babies

A new study suggests that pediatricians could soon have the tools to boost brain development and IQ in premature babies.

FOX’s Jeff Monosso reports:

Two blood-building drugs: Erythropoietin and Darbepoetin injected soon after birth may give premature babies a lasting long-term edge building red blood cells and brain development by age 4.

Doctor Robin Ohls, professor of pediatrics at the University of New Mexico, says that’s where the study of dozens of premature babies stands now.

(Dr. Ohls) “The effect of Epo and Darby continues in that these preschool children have improved IQ’s by about 12 points, scores that we would see in a term health child.”

Ohls calls the results promising, saying that more study needs to be done, but that if confirmed, the blood building drugs could soon be a standard of care for low birth weight infants.

In Chicago, Jeff Monosso, FOX News.