© с сайта Томского госуниверситета TOMSK, Mar 19 – RIA Tomsk. Neuroscientists of Tomsk State University (TSU) are developing
methods for early diagnosis of maturation and damage of myelin (the substance
of nervous fibers cover) in children, including prenatal period, to determine
the developmental delay of children and predict intellectual abilities, the
press service of the university reports on Tuesday.
With reference to Vasily Yarnykh, Professor of TSU and
the University of Washington, it is explained that congenital malformations of
the fetus are among the three main causes of perinatal mortality and neonatal
death. Most of the anomalies are caused by the interaction of genetic and
environmental factors, and effective methods are needed for the early diagnosis
of severe diseases of the central nervous system (CNS).
"For the solution of this problem TSU scientists
suggest to use mapping of myelin - one of the main components of the brain
substance that provides conduction of nerve impulses and protecting nerve
fibers from damage ... Scientists start searching for biomarkers of maturation
and damage to the brain matter in children, including the fetus after 20th week
of pregnancy", - is said in the statement.
Diagnostics of violations of myelination at an early
age is important for "isolating at-risk groups of patients with mental
retardation, autism and more serious mental illnesses, which, in turn, can be
used to prescribe early behavioral therapy and develop social adaptation
skills", - the press service explains.
© пресс-служба Томского госуниверситета
It is noted that for the first time a non-invasive
method for myelin evaluating was developed several years ago by a group of
scientists under the leadership of Yarnykh. Now it is being tested in several
clinics in Russia, including to assess damage to the sheaths of nerve fibers in
people who have suffered a stroke. In 2018, this method was also tested when
examining children in their first years of life and fetuses in the process of
prenatal development.
The study of Tomsk scientists received the support of
the Russian Science Foundation and is designed for four years.