Neurological basis for SIDS

Researchers may finally be close to detecting the cause of SIDS (Sudden infant death syndrome), one of the largest killers of infants all round the world. They think that some infants may be more prone to crib deaths than others because of hormonal imbalance in their brain. A study published in the Journal of Neuropathology and Experimental Neurology suggests that the brain stems of infants who are more prone to SIDS are genetically abnormal. Their brains have a decreased capacity to be protective during sleep. Protective reflexes during sleep are usually strong in babies. However, in these infants, the brain chemical serotonin is not very well transmitted within regions. The transmission of this chemical between regions is important to regulate the baby's breathing pattern, heart beat and temperature of the baby. When the baby is asleep, all the activities of the body are balanced by the brain chemicals. An imbalance in these neurotransmitters makes the baby more vulnerable to decreased oxygen supply or increased carbon dioxide intake. The researchers believe that these changes occur very early during the foetal period. SIDS is a major cause of crib deaths, especially in the West, but its cause is still not known. This study might prove helpful in identification of the cause. The National Institute of Child Health and Human Development funded the study whose results were also presented at the meeting of the American Academy of Paediatrics.