<- Do you believe what you believe? | Main | A fond farewell - Melman style ->
November 2, 2006
SIDS linked to Serotonin Abnormalities
NIH News
The lower brainstem helps control such basic functions as breathing, heart rate, blood pressure, body temperature, and arousal. The researchers found that brainstems from SIDS infants contained more neurons (brain or nerve cells) that manufacture and use serotonin than did the brainstems of the control infants, explained the study's first author, David Paterson, PhD, a researcher at Children's Hospital in Boston.
Although the brainstem tissue from the SIDS infants contained more serotonin-using neurons, these serotonin-using neurons appeared to contain fewer receptors for serotonin than did the brainstems of control infants. Dr. Paterson noted that there are at least 14 different subtypes of serotonin receptor. In their study, the researchers tested the infants' brainstem tissue for a serotonin receptor known as "subtype 1A."
While this doesn't solve the problem, it helps explain why SIDS happens and gives scientists something to look for after the death for proof of SIDS. Likewise, it gives them something to work toward for preventing and diagnosing SIDS prone infants.
Until then, remember babies should sleep alone on their backs without toys or blankets.
Posted by Jesse at November 2, 2006 2:34 PM