Sofa King
11-01-2006, 12:18 PM
SIDS
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NIH
October 31, 2006 5:23 p.m.
CHICAGO (AP) - In a small study with big implications, researchers have found strong evidence that sudden infant death syndrome -- or "crib death" -- may be caused by chemical defects in the brain.
A researcher says the findings may take "the mystery away from SIDS," and perhaps also some of the guilt. Marian Willinger, at the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, says grieving parents often wonder, "What did I do wrong?" She says now they can see their baby may have had a disease.
The study found certain brain-stem abnormalities may involve an imbalance in how the brain uses the neurotransmitter serotonin. The brain chemical plays a role in breathing, body temperature and arousal from sleep.
Researchers studied autopsied brain tissue from 31 SIDS babies and ten infants who died of other causes. SIDS babies had about double the number of nerve cells showing serotonin defects.
Currently, the defects can't be detected until after death. But there's hope that continuing study could lead to a way to identify infants at risk and allow parents to take precautions.
The study is published in the Journal of the American Medical Association
Web Links
NIH
October 31, 2006 5:23 p.m.
CHICAGO (AP) - In a small study with big implications, researchers have found strong evidence that sudden infant death syndrome -- or "crib death" -- may be caused by chemical defects in the brain.
A researcher says the findings may take "the mystery away from SIDS," and perhaps also some of the guilt. Marian Willinger, at the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, says grieving parents often wonder, "What did I do wrong?" She says now they can see their baby may have had a disease.
The study found certain brain-stem abnormalities may involve an imbalance in how the brain uses the neurotransmitter serotonin. The brain chemical plays a role in breathing, body temperature and arousal from sleep.
Researchers studied autopsied brain tissue from 31 SIDS babies and ten infants who died of other causes. SIDS babies had about double the number of nerve cells showing serotonin defects.
Currently, the defects can't be detected until after death. But there's hope that continuing study could lead to a way to identify infants at risk and allow parents to take precautions.
The study is published in the Journal of the American Medical Association