SIDS linked to brain defect
September 10th, 2007
Building on two decades of work, scientists’ new findings show the strongest evidence yet that infants at risk for sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) have abnormalities in the brainstem. The brainstem controls heart rate, blood pressure, and breathing.
The researchers also say problems with serotonin in the brain could be a cause. SIDS babies may not be able to properly use and recycle the brain chemical serotonin, which helps to relay messages between nerve cells.
The findings could accelerate a push for simple tests to identify babies at high risk, according to the Journal of the American Medical Association.
Each year, about 2,000 seemingly healthy babies die of SIDS, or crib death. They go to sleep and don’t wake up.
