Research in Australia offers hope for preventing stillbirth through early detection
Canberra, Dec 22
Researchers in Australia have uncovered a biological process that could explain some stillbirths and pave the way for early detection and prevention.
The study reveals that the placenta, the vital lifeline between mother and baby, can age too quickly during pregnancy, compromising its ability to nourish the baby and increasing the risk of stillbirth, a media release from Australia's Flinders University said on Monday.
The team, led by Flinders University researchers, discovered that molecules called circular RNAs, which normally accumulate in ageing tissue, build up in the placenta far earlier than expected in cases of stillbirth, causing breaks and triggering cellular ageing, it said.
This premature ageing reduces the placenta's capacity to support the growing baby, raising the risk of stillbirth, according to the study published in the American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, reports Xinhua news agency.
The team found that in stillbirth cases, the placenta appeared biologically older than expected for its gestational age, showing damaged DNA, worn cell structures, and high levels of circular RNAs, said lead author Anya Arthurs from the Flinders Health and Medical Research Institute.
"When we reduced one of these molecules in placental cells, the damage slowed, and ageing was delayed, showing these molecules aren't just bystanders, but active drivers of the process," Arthurs said, adding some of these circular RNAs can be measured in maternal blood as early as 15 to 16 weeks into pregnancy, suggesting potential for an early screening test.
Stillbirth affects about two million pregnancies worldwide each year, yet prevention has stalled as molecular placental ageing remains invisible under a microscope, the researchers said.
They said the findings could lead to new screening tools to prevent stillbirth and offer broader insights into how ageing processes, including those linked to diseases like Alzheimer's, affect human health.
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— IANS
Reader Comments
Fantastic breakthrough by the Australian team. The connection to diseases like Alzheimer's is fascinating. My only concern is cost – will such advanced screening ever reach government hospitals in rural India, or will it remain a luxury for private clinics? We need to ensure equitable healthcare.
Science is amazing. To think something as tiny as circular RNA molecules can have such a huge impact. This gives real hope. More power to researchers working on these silent tragedies.
While this is promising research, we must remember it's one study. Early detection is key, but prevention is complex. Hope the findings are validated and lead to tangible clinical tools. The global stillbirth numbers are heartbreaking.
This is a welcome step. In India, we also need to focus on basic antenatal care, nutrition, and reducing stigma so mothers feel comfortable discussing their fears. Advanced tech must complement, not replace, these fundamentals.
The part about slowing the damage by reducing the molecules is so hopeful! It means there could be interventions, not just detection. Wishing strength to all families who have experienced this loss. â¤ï¸
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