PhD project The overall aim of the thesis is to evaluate new methods for early assessment of structural brain injury and cognitive function in infants. The work includes two methods: analysis of neurofilament light (NfL) in serum and examination with functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS).
Diseases during the neonatal period and nutrition during infancy are of central importance for brain development. Identifying early markers of neurological injury and abnormal development would be of great value for use in studies and for providing clearer prognostic information to parents regarding the child’s expected development. Early detection of abnormalities and/or increased risk of abnormalities is also valuable for the possibility of individualizing support measures and follow-up during the child’s growth.
