SIDS May Be Caused By Low Serotonin Levels

http://www.usatoday.com/news/health/2010-02-03-sids03_st_N.htm

Sudden infant death syndrome, or SIDS, kills 2,300 babies per year. Researchers may have found out what makes some babies more vulnerable to SIDS.

Autopsies were performed on 35 infants who died of SIDS, 7 babies who died unexpectedly of known causes, and 5 who died from other chronic problems related to lack of oxygen. When the chemicals in the babies' brainstems were compared, researchers found that serotonin levels were 26% lower in the tissue of the babies who died from SIDS.

Serotonin is a brain chemical that helps the brainstem regulate breathing, temperature, sleeping, waking, and other automatic functions. This chemical normally helps babies respond to high carbon dioxide levels during sleep, by helping them wake up and shift their head position to get fresh air.

When babies are placed face down, their exhaled carbon dioxide may pool in loose bedding, and be breathed back in. Normally, babies sense the high carbon dioxide levels and wake up. Those who don't have normal amounts of serotonin may not wake up.

Doctors hope to eventually use this information to screen babies for serotonin problems and find a way to protect them.