Magnesium shown to minimize the risk of cerebral palsy in premature babies

For reasons still unknown, premature babies are more likely to develop cerebral palsy than babies born full term. In extremely low birth weight babies weighing less than 2.2 pounds, the risk of cerebral palsy runs a 70 times higher than normal birth weight babies. There are some observational data suggesting magnesium might protect newborn brains from cerebral palsy. It is unclear as of yet why magnesium has shown indication to reduce the neurological damage that can cause cerebral palsy, but the development is hopeful. For years magnesium sulfate has been used to delay labor but now it might also be beneficial for premature babies. More studies will be needed to confirm the benefits of magnesium to be used to prevent cerebral palsy. Until then, the cheap, simple, and easily acceptable drug will continue to be researched in hopes of preventing instances of cerebral palsy. For more information on cerebral palsy, contact us to confer with a cerebral palsy lawyer.