This is during pregnancy.
Research in sheep suggests that caffeine given during pregnancy and to newborns after birth could help prevent cerebral palsy, a condition often linked to oxygen deprivation at birth. Dr. Emin Maltepe, a neonatologist at UCSF Benioff Children’s Hospital, and Dr. Jana Mike, a pediatric intensivist, have explored how caffeine might help protect the brain from oxygen deprivation, which can lead to cerebral palsy and other neurodevelopmental disorders. According to Maltepe, caffeine has a history of safely stimulating the respiratory centers in premature infants, helping them “remember to breathe.” Mike added that caffeine also crosses the blood-brain barrier easily and serves as a powerful antioxidant and anti-inflammatory agent.
The study, published in Stroke, involved 30 pregnant sheep, half of which were administered a caffeine dose comparable to about 10 cups of coffee, while the other half received a placebo. After birth, some lambs were exposed to a similar caffeine dose and smaller follow-up doses for two days, while others received a placebo. The researchers found that lambs exposed to caffeine exhibited reduced inflammation markers (cytokines) and displayed fewer signs of brain injury. The treated lambs also showed more active behavior, suggesting potential neuroprotective effects of caffeine.
This caffeine intervention appears to have been well-tolerated by the mother sheep, with no adverse effects observed. Maltepe expressed hope that caffeine could offer a new way to reduce the risk of long-term disabilities in infants affected by birth-related asphyxia, especially in low-resource areas where current treatments are less accessible. Presently, the standard treatment for oxygen-deprived newborns involves controlled cooling of the body, which has shown only moderate effectiveness in preventing severe cerebral palsy.
The research, supported by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, aims to identify effective therapies that could prevent or lessen asphyxia-induced damage. According to Maltepe, caffeine emerged as a leading candidate after the team evaluated over a thousand drugs, proving more effective than the existing care standard.
Though these results are based on animal models, the researchers are optimistic and are moving forward with clinical trials in pregnant women and newborns worldwide. This approach could be particularly transformative in regions with limited access to advanced medical interventions for birth asphyxia.
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