- Advertisement -
Researchers from Boston Children’s Hospital and Rady Children’s Hospital in San Diego have found that a particular brain receptor involved in helping babies gasp for air was altered in some infants who died of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS). The receptor is part of the serotonin system, which regulates involuntary body functions like heart rate, breathing and blood pressure. SIDS is the unforeseen and unexplained death of a baby younger than one year old and is the leading cause of death among babies between one month and one year old in the US. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention attributed nearly 1,400 infant deaths to SIDS in 2020.
In light of the recent news by a recent article from NBC News, researchers are making progress in understanding some of the risk factors and mechanisms that contribute to sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS), the unforeseen and unexplained death of a baby younger than one year old.
The prevailing theory suggests that there are three possible factors that contribute to SIDS: first, the infant is at a critical stage of development during the first year of life; second, the baby is exposed to a stressor, such as sleeping face down, which can lower the amount of oxygen in their blood while raising the level of carbon dioxide; and third, the infant has an underlying abnormality that makes it harder to survive that traumatic event.
- Advertisement -
A study published in the Journal of Neuropathology & Experimental Neurology suggests that a particular brain receptor likely involved in helping babies gasp for air was altered in some infants who died of SIDS. The receptor in question is part of the serotonin system, which plays an important role in regulating involuntary body functions like heart rate, breathing and blood pressure.
To better understand the condition, researchers examined brain tissue from 58 infants who died of SIDS between 2004 and 2011, then compared those samples to the brain tissue of 12 infants who died of other causes, such as pneumonia or heart disease. The results showed that the babies who had died of SIDS were more likely to have an altered version of the serotonin-related brain receptor than the control cases.
Robin Haynes, the study’s lead author and a researcher at Boston Children’s Hospital, said that babies normally have a protective response that prompts them to gasp for air when they don’t get enough oxygen during sleep. “They arouse and they go through what’s called auto-resuscitation, where it kick-starts breathing,” she said. With SIDS, however, that response may not kick in, perhaps because of the altered brain receptor. If an infant is unable to restore their breathing and heart rate, that can hinder blood flow and oxygen supply.
- Advertisement -
SIDS usually happens during an infant’s sleep, and though it’s rare, it’s the leading cause of death among babies between one month and one year old in the U.S. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention attributed nearly 1,400 infant deaths to SIDS in 2020.
While the study sheds light on a potential mechanism that contributes to SIDS, there are still many unknowns about the condition. A range of theories about SIDS continue to be explored by researchers in the hopes of better understanding the condition and developing strategies for prevention.
In the meantime, there are steps parents can take to reduce the risk of SIDS, including placing babies to sleep on their backs, using a firm sleep surface, keeping soft objects and loose bedding out of the sleep area, and avoiding overheating. It’s also important to ensure that infants get regular check-ups and vaccinations, as some illnesses can increase the risk of SIDS.
Though there is still much to learn about SIDS, the research is making strides in understanding the condition and working towards prevention. By taking steps to reduce the risk of SIDS, parents can help keep their babies safe and healthy.
