Infant stress and sleep deprivation as an aetiological basis for the sudden infant death syndrome

A mechanism for sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS): Stress-induced leak via ryanodine receptors

“…In addition, periods of extreme emotional stress related to pain, hunger, overheating, infection, and episodes of minor upper airway obstructions from soft bedding can be experienced during infancy. 37 These stressors may provide a mechanism to trigger a lethal cardiac event in RyR2 mutation-positive infants.…”

Inhibition of Serotonergic Neurons in the Nucleus Paragigantocellularis Lateralis Fragments Sleep and Decreases Rapid Eye Movement Sleep in the Piglet: Implications for Sudden Infant Death Syndrome

“…However, an increase in arousability may not always be an advantage because it might lead to fragmented sleep and sleep deprivation. Prolonged deep periods of recovery sleep might also increase the risk of obstructive sleep apnea (Simpson, 2001). REM sleep deprivation in adult humans and animals has been found to cause many behavioral changes (Dement, 1960;Koller et al, 1969), and brief periods of sleep deprivation in infants alters the autonomic control of heart rate (Franco et al, 2003) and decrease arousals (Franco et al, 2004).…”

“…Sleep research in SIDS has been focused on arousal as an important protective mechanism (Kahn et al, 2002). However, an increase in arousability may also be disadvantageous and lead to fragmented sleep or sleep deprivation (Simpson, 2001). We have reported previously that nonspecific neuronal inhibition with GABA A agonists in the PGCL region in the piglet disrupts sleep architecture and results in more wakefulness (WAKE) .…”

Sudden infant death syndrome in child care settings in the Netherlands

“…All this will no doubt cause some stress in infants. 12 Do we really know the possible repercussions for these unprepared and vulnerable beings, both awake and asleep? Is the relatively high incidence of SIDS in child care perhaps a further reason to prolong maternity leave after childbirth towards the age of 7 or 9 months in the Netherlands?…”