One in five babies with heart defects shows brain changes before surgery

Many parents worry about brain health when their child is born with a heart defect. A new analysis looked at over 5,000 fetuses and children from birth to age 21. The team used magnetic resonance imaging to check for structural brain changes. They found that 23.1 percent of cases showed these issues during the prenatal period. The numbers grew higher after birth but before surgery, reaching 36.7 percent. After the operation, the rate climbed to 50.3 percent. This rise suggests the brain changes become more visible or common as the child grows and undergoes treatment. The study included children with isolated heart defects, meaning no other syndromes were present. The researchers noted that different MRI machines and detection limits might affect the results. They also questioned why doctors order these scans so often. These findings matter because they highlight a need to understand brain risks alongside heart repairs. Families should know that these brain changes are not rare in this group.