Sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS), also known as “death in the crib,” is a rare condition in which an apparently healthy infant dies suddenly.
It usually happens while the baby is sleeping, but it can also happen when the baby is awake. Babies born prematurely or with low birthweight are at higher risk.
Of the approximately 3,400 unanticipated infant deaths (SUIDs) reported in the United States in 2020, approximately 1,389 were attributable to SIDS. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
In a new study, researchers trying to understand the root cause of SIDS found that it is related to biological abnormalities.
The researchers collected tissue samples from infant deaths that occurred between 2004 and 2011 from the San Diego Medical Examiner’s Office. They analyzed the brainstems of 70 infants to see if there were any consistent abnormalities.
This study suggests that abnormalities in the serotonergic system specifically reduce serotonin binding to 5-HT2A/C receptors, which may be the underlying cause behind the condition. Previous studies in rodents have shown that 2A/C receptors play a role in promoting wakefulness and self-resuscitation, which helps protect the brain’s oxygen supply during sleep.
The researchers say there could be three possible factors – babies are at a critical stage in their first year of cardiorespiratory development, and there are some external stressors, such as babies sleeping on their tummy or sharing a bed with other people (experts say the best ways to protect children Protection from SIDS is putting them to sleep on their back), and babies may have physical abnormalities that increase their susceptibility to breathing difficulties during sleep.
“This work builds on previous research from our lab and others that showed abnormalities in the serotonergic system in some infants with SIDS,” said study lead author Robin Haynes. science blog.
Haynes noted that more work is needed to understand how these abnormalities relate to causes of death. These abnormalities, when combined with other environmental and biological factors, including the baby’s sleeping position, lead to an increased risk of SIDS, the researchers said.
The results of the study were published in Journal of Neuropathology and Experimental Neurology.
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Published by Medicaldaily.com