Serotonin and SIDS

Sudden Infant Death Syndrome is heartbreaking to families and frustrating to researchers. No clues have been discovered for predicting which babies are at risk.

Now a recent breakthrough in research with neurotransmitters may offer some hope.

Neurotrasmitters are chemicals produced by neurons (brain cells) that bridge the gap between neurons to keep the nervous sytem functioning. About 150 have been identified but we only know what approximately 50 of them do. Some speed up the nervous system, some slow it down. Some produce a feeling of pleasure. Some are pain killers. Some arouse the body so it can be ready for flight or fight. Many have more than one function.

Most psychoactive drugs work at the neurotransmitter level. Serotonin is a neurotransmitter that regulates mood and some depression is caused by the brain not producing enough of it. Some antidepressants replace Serotonin, to elevate mood.

Now, Serotonin is being suspected of causing SIDS. Most infants when laid face down can turn their head if deprived of oxygen by a blanket or soft mattress. But babies with a deficiency of Serotonin don't awaken enough to turn their heads. This is a different view than the one that has basically said the brains of children who die of SIDS have "under-developed" brains.

If the research results are verified there might be some testing for Serotonin levels in newborns. Even if a baby's body can't handle drug therapy to counteract the effects because it is too small, parents can at least put some safeguards in place.