Massage Aids Brain Growth in Preemies

“Massage may help boost brain growth – particularly visual development – in premature babies, says a study in this week’s Journal of Neuroscience.  Italian researchers tested 20 healthy infants born at 30 to 33 weeks (babies are considered full-term at 40 weeks of pregnancy).   Beginning at 10 days old, half the babies received 60-minute massages twice a day for 10 days from an expert.  The authors say this is the first time massage on premature newborns has been linked to brain development.  The study also identifies a hormone that may be responsible for massage benefits on the visual system.’ – Mary Brophy Marcus

USA Today
May 2010