Nutrient-based therapies to protect the neonatal brain: Exploring the milky way

Abstract

From the moment the first brain cells start to emerge during gestation, a range of complex and precisely timed processes takes place during brain development that lay the groundwork for life. When these processes are disturbed, for example due to preterm birth or oxygen deprivation occurring around birth, this can have a major impact on infants, their families, and society. Although neonatal care has improved tremendously over the past decades, effective therapies to counteract brain injury acquired during the neonatal period are still scarce. The research presented in this thesis aims to provide insights into the causes of brain injury that can occur as a result of preterm birth, and proposes relevant rodent and organoid models to study this type of injury in a preclinical setting. Moreover, the research presented in this thesis provides evidence for the efficacy of (multi)nutrient-based therapies for neonatal brain injuries. Nutrients that occur naturally in breastmilk, such as omega-3 fatty acids and specialized human milk fibers, seem particularly promising in this regard. In future, these findings can contribute to the development of new therapies to improve the outlook for patients who faced adversity during the first stages of life.