Caffeine therapy may help premature babies' brains: Study
A daily dose of caffeine may safely boost the brain development and lung function in premature babies , according to researchers, including one of Indian origin. In neonatal intensive care units, or NICUs, premature babies born under 29 weeks are given a daily dose of caffeine to ensure the best possible start to life, said researchers from the University of Calgary in Canada. The study, published in the journal Pediatrics, shows the earlier the dose of caffeine can be given, the better. "Caffeine is the most commonly used drug in the NICU after antibiotics," said Abhay Lodha, an associate professor at the University of Calgary. "It's important that we understand the long-term effects of caffeine as a treatment and ensure these babies are not only surviving, but have quality of life down the road," Lodha said. He collaborated with researchers from the University of British Columbia and Mount Sinai Hospital to analyse data from 26 NICUs ac