This year many breakthroughs were made in pediatrics. Below are a few of the best advancements that 2019 had to offer!
The Children’s Hospital Association finds that a later school start could improve health and sleep habits in adolescents
Researchers found that there was a direct correlation between the amount of sleep adolescents got and their insulin sensitivity. Due to the fact that teenagers tend to have later sleeping patterns than younger children, researchers have actually suggested that a later start could be linked to improved health for students.
Doctors Improve ADHD Treatment Through Video Games
A study was conducted on over 150 children between the ages of 6-12 that were diagnosed with ADHD to see how BCI-Training would affect their symptoms. After months of research, it was shown that symptoms of ADHD had marginally improved for the participants.
FDA Approves First Contact Lens Indicated to Slow the Progression of Nearsightedness in Children
The contact lenses are able to slow down the most common visual impairment in the world. The lenses are called MiSight, and it is a single-use, disposable, soft contact lens that was tested over three years on 135 children ages 8-12. The results showed that those who wore MiSight experienced less vision impairment than those who did not.
FDA Approves Innovative Gene Therapy to Treat Pediatric Patients with Spinal Muscular Atrophy
Spinal Muscular Atrophy is a rare disease that is the leading genetic cause of infant mortality. The approval makes it possible for doctors to use gene therapy with a product called Zolgensma. Research is still being done on the product, however, the studies have shown great improvement in the patient’s ability to develop proper motor functions at an early age.