Can brain changes in premature infants heal on their own?

Generally, for some mild white matter injuries or transient brain function abnormalities, as the premature infant's brain develops and matures, there is a good chance of gradual self-recovery. However, for more severe brain changes, self-healing may not be possible. If discomfort symptoms occur, timely medical attention is recommended. Detailed analysis is as follows:

For some mild white matter injuries or transient brain function abnormalities, as the premature infant's brain develops and matures, there is a good chance of gradual self-recovery. This is because the infant brain has strong plasticity and regenerative capacity. Early interventions such as physical therapy, speech therapy, and cognitive training can promote brain development in premature infants, aid in partial brain function recovery, and increase the likelihood of self-healing.

However, more severe brain changes, such as extensive white matter injury, severe intracranial hemorrhage, poor brain development, cerebral hemorrhage, or hydrocephalus, often lead to irreversible nerve damage. These injuries may disrupt neural conduction pathways, affecting normal brain development and function, and usually cannot be fully recovered by the body itself. Even after treatment, various degrees of neurological sequelae may remain, such as delayed motor development, intellectual disability, or epilepsy.

It is recommended to undergo regular neurodevelopmental assessments to promptly detect and address any potential issues.