Australian Researchers Discover Biological Process Linked to Stillbirths

Researchers in Australia have found a biological process that may explain some cases of stillbirths, potentially leading to early detection and prevention. The study, led by researchers at Flinders University in Australia, uncovered that the placenta, crucial for the mother and baby connection, can age too rapidly during pregnancy. This premature aging can hinder the placenta’s ability to nourish the baby, increasing the risk of stillbirth. The research highlighted that circular RNAs, molecules that typically accumulate in aging tissues, accumulate in the placenta earlier than usual in instances of stillbirth. This accumulation causes damage and initiates cellular aging, reducing the placenta’s ability to support the developing baby and elevating the risk of stillbirth. The study, published in the American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, revealed that in cases of stillbirth, the placenta appeared biologically older than expected for its stage of development, displaying damaged DNA, worn cell structures, and high levels of circular RNAs. Lead author Anya Arthurs from the Flinders Health and Medical Research Institute noted that by reducing one of these molecules in placental cells, the damage and aging process slowed down, indicating that these molecules actively drive the aging process. Some of these circular RNAs can be detected in maternal blood as early as 15 to 16 weeks into pregnancy, suggesting the potential for an early screening test. Despite approximately two million pregnancies worldwide being affected by stillbirth each year, prevention efforts have been hindered by the invisible nature of molecular placental aging under a microscope, the researchers explained. The study’s findings could pave the way for new screening methods to prevent stillbirths and provide insights into how aging processes, including those associated with diseases like Alzheimer’s, impact human health.