Low Levels of Brain Protein Linked to Sudden Infant Death Syndrome

Highlights

Low level of a protein, orexin is associated with sudden infant death syndrome.
Children could be screened at birth to determine the risk of the syndrome.
Next, ideal levels of the protein should be identified to diagnose the disease.

Babies who die from sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS), sometimes known as 'cot death', have low levels of orexin, a brain protein which regulates sleep arousal.

Researchers at Sydney's Westmead Children's hospital found that low levels of the same protein were found in the brain of adults with obstructive sleep apnoea, a condition that causes pauses in breathing while asleep.

Sudden Infant Death Syndrome - Overview
Sudden Infant Death Syndrome is death of a baby, under one year of age that occurs in sleep and cannot be explained.

‘In SIDS, infants die in their sleep but the reason was unknown. The research has now pointed out orexin, a brain protein as a major risk factor.’

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The breakthrough means that children could be screened at birth to determine the risk of sudden infant death syndrome.

Dr Rita Machaalani, manager of the sleep unit at Westmead, told the Australian Telegraph that the evidence discovered is “hard core proof” of the theory that sudden infant death syndrome is sleep related.

“It’s linked that there is a sleep-related issue, which we’ve always known because the babies die in their sleep, but we didn’t know what it was linked to but this protein seems to be a major player in it,” she said.

Avoid All Risk Factors for Sudden Infant Death Syndrome : Study
Sleeping on their back is not the only risk factor to avoid in SIDS, rather all other risk factors should also be considered.

Dr Machaalani said that the next step will be to identify the ideal levels of Orexin for a baby's brain and develop a diagnostic tool to help prevent such deaths.

“If we can determine what’s the normal level in babies when born than we can use those abnormalities to predict kids that might be at risk in the future of sudden infant death syndrome or sleep apnoea,” she said.

Effect of Sleep Environment on Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS)
Sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) is characterized by death of an infant that is not explained by medical history and remains unexplained even after an autopsy.

According to charity the Lullaby Trust, sudden infant death syndrome is “the sudden and unexplained death of an infant where no cause is found after a detailed post mortem.”

In the UK, just under 300 babies (roughly 0.3 percent) die suddenly and unexpectedly every year, according to the NHS, a huge decline from 75 years ago, when as many as one in four babies did not get to see their first birthday due to a range of factors, mostly related to poverty, poor nutrition and infection.

Baby Products Do Not Prevent Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS)
Over the counter baby products cannot prevent Sudden Infant Death Syndrome says FDA. When a child under age one dies suddenly without an explainable cause of death.

Source-Medindia