Experts Discover Possible Cause Of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome In Revolutionary Study
SIDS: It stands for “sudden infant death syndrome,” and despite being the leading cause of infant mortality in Western countries, responsible for almost half of post-neonatal deaths, scientists don’t know what causes it. However, a recent study from NYU may change that, shedding light on the phenomenon that usually strikes babies under six months old while they’re asleep.
Published in the journal Neurology by a team led by Dr. Laura Gould, the study uses a registry of cases collected by the SUDC Registry and Research Collaborative.
By analyzing over 300 cases, as well as video footage, scientists discovered that brief seizures may be to blame. They found footage showing muscle convulsions lasting less than 60 seconds occurring within 30 minutes of known sudden unexplained deaths in childhood.
Doctors have found a potential cause of SIDS (sudden infant death syndrome), which usually affects babies younger than six months of age
Image credits: Freepik
By analyzing over 300 cases, as well as video footage, scientists discovered that brief seizures may be to blame
Image credits: Dominika Roseclay
In a statement, the study’s senior investigator and neurologist, Dr. Orrin Devinsky, said, “Convulsive seizures may be the smoking gun that medical science has been looking for to understand why these children die.”
The study backs previous findings that infants experiencing seizures accompanied by a fever were 10 times more likely to suffer a sudden, unexpected death.
Image credits: Natalie Bond
However, the study’s results are far from conclusive, and the team emphasized that further research is needed. Medical experts have previously drawn correlations between SIDS and tobacco smoke, overheating, and sleeping face down, and the CDC’s primary guidance for preventing SIDS remains placing infants on their backs.
The study backs previous findings that infants experiencing seizures accompanied by a fever were 10 times more likely to suffer a sudden, unexpected death
Image credits: Freepik
However, the results are far from conclusive, as medical experts have previously drawn correlations between SIDS and tobacco smoke, overheating, and sleeping face down
Image credits: Lisa Fotios
Additionally, a 2022 study published in eBioMedicine found a link between SIDS and low levels of a blood enzyme called butyrylcholinesterase (BChE), which is important for proper wake-up function.
“These families can now live with the knowledge that this was not their fault,” said lead researcher Dr. Carmel Harrington, of the Children’s Hospital at Westmead in New South Wales, Australia.
The SIDS mystery may not be solved yet, but scientists are encouraged that they’ve found more risk factors. In her interview with NBC News, Gould said, “If we can figure out the children at risk, maybe we can change their outcome.”
People shared their heartbreaking experiences with the syndrome and expressed their hope for more studies to be conducted
The study drew from a pool of 301 patients but the actual analysis was limited to 7 babies. That is a _very_ small sample size. Still interesting though.
and the numbers are too low to be statistically significant. THOUSANDS of young babies get seizures with fever. SIDS (luckily) only affects few babies. Even one is one too many, but not in the same league.
Load More Replies... Maybe the seizure and fever are symptoms of the cause rather than being the cause itself.
That was my thought too, if there is a pattern identified involving fever or seizures, the first question is what is causing them. Hopefully it is a clue that further research can use to identify the actual cause, but in itself it's not really answering anything.
Load More Replies...
Sudden infant death was always described as “convulsions”, even into the early 1900s. “The baby lived but a week, then took convulsions and died” was a tragic and frequent phrase in a lot of letters and diaries. So there may be something to the theory. I had a friend who lost their baby to SIDS. Personally I think there’s not one cause for this. Unfortunately it just happens, and I hope they find a way to keep babies safe from it.
The study drew from a pool of 301 patients but the actual analysis was limited to 7 babies. That is a _very_ small sample size. Still interesting though.
and the numbers are too low to be statistically significant. THOUSANDS of young babies get seizures with fever. SIDS (luckily) only affects few babies. Even one is one too many, but not in the same league.
Load More Replies... Maybe the seizure and fever are symptoms of the cause rather than being the cause itself.
That was my thought too, if there is a pattern identified involving fever or seizures, the first question is what is causing them. Hopefully it is a clue that further research can use to identify the actual cause, but in itself it's not really answering anything.
Load More Replies... Sudden infant death was always described as “convulsions”, even into the early 1900s. “The baby lived but a week, then took convulsions and died” was a tragic and frequent phrase in a lot of letters and diaries. So there may be something to the theory. I had a friend who lost their baby to SIDS. Personally I think there’s not one cause for this. Unfortunately it just happens, and I hope they find a way to keep babies safe from it.
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