The Relationship between Sleep and Cognitive Performance in Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD): A Pilot Study

Backer, Nouf Backer Al; Jaafar, Malak; Habibullah, Hafiz; Bashir, Shahid

doi:10.3390/children5110153

Cited by 8 publications

(5 citation statements)

References 39 publications

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“…Research suggests that sleep is associated with several cognitive domains in autism; however, this literature is scarce in the FASD population. Al-Backer and colleagues [ 27 ], for example, report that actigraphy-measured sleep duration is significantly associated with delayed response time in children aged between 7 and 10 years with a diagnosis of autism ( n = 18). Meanwhile, caregiver-reported insomnia and parasomnia symptoms can predict diminished working memory [ 28 ] and hyperactivity [ 29 ] in children.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Sleep and Cognition in Children with Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders (FASD) and Children with Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD)

Mughal¹,

Hill

Joyce

et al. 2020

Brain Sciences

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Children with Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders (FASD) and Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD) experience significantly higher rates of sleep disturbances than their typically developing peers. However, little is known about the association between sleep and the cognitive phenotype in these clinical populations. Structural damage affecting cortical and subcortical connectivity occurs as a result of prenatal alcohol exposure in children with FASD, whilst it is believed an abundance of short-range connectivity explains the phenotypic manifestations of childhood ASD. These underlying neural structural and connectivity differences manifest as cognitive patterns, with some shared and some unique characteristics between FASD and ASD. This is the first study to examine sleep and its association with cognition in individuals with FASD, and to compare sleep in individuals with FASD and ASD. We assessed children aged 6–12 years with a diagnosis of FASD (n = 29), ASD (n = 21), and Typically Developing (TD) children (n = 46) using actigraphy (CamNTech Actiwatch 8), digit span tests of working memory (Weschler Intelligence Scale), tests of nonverbal mental age (MA; Ravens Standard Progressive Matrices), receptive vocabulary (British Picture Vocabulary Scale), and a choice reaction time (CRT) task. Children with FASD and ASD presented with significantly shorter total sleep duration, lower sleep efficiency, and more nocturnal wakings than their TD peers. Sleep was significantly associated with scores on the cognitive tests in all three groups. Our findings support the growing body of work asserting that sleep is significant to cognitive functioning in these neurodevelopmental conditions; however, more research is needed to determine cause and effect.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Sleep and Cognition in Children with Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders (FASD) and Children with Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD)

Mughal¹,

Hill

Joyce

et al. 2020

Brain Sciences

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“…The association between sleep disturbances and cognitive functioning is not well established because some studies reported an increase of sleep difficulties in children with ASD and cognitive deficit ( 2 ) while others the occurrence regardless of the cognitive functioning ( 58 ). Moreover, the direction of this relationship needs to be clarified ( 59 ): do sleep problems cause cognitive deficits or vice versa ? Recent researches hypothesized that sleep is essential for optimizing cognitive development, memory and learning ( 31 , 58 ) and that chronic sleep deprivation has negative effects on cognitive and academic performance ( 31 , 41 ) probably influencing cerebral connectivity and creating aberrant neural pathways ( 60 ).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Sleep Disturbances in Children Affected by Autism Spectrum Disorder

et al. 2022

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BackgroundSleep disturbances are common in children affected by Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). The aim of our study was to describe sleep characteristics and disturbances in children with ASD, to evaluate possible related factors, and to assess parental stress.MethodsHundred children with a diagnosis of ASD (mean age: 66.7 months, SD: 27.4, range: 24.7–152.1 months, n = 79 males) were included in the study. We collected data on sociodemographic, clinical, genetic and instrumental variables as well as comorbid conditions. Parents filled out the Questionnaire on sleep behavior in the first years of life, the BEARS questionnaire, and the Parenting Stress Index Short Form. From the analysis on sleep characteristics, we excluded 25 children treated with melatonin.ResultsFifty-seven (57%) out of 100 children met the criteria for insomnia. Sleep disorders were associated with developmental or cognitive delay, emotional and behavioral problems (such as anxiety problems and aggressive behaviors) and absence of strategies for inducing sleep after nocturnal awakenings. From parents' reports, sleep disorders had diurnal repercussions on their offspring; however, we found no statistical correlation between disturbances and family stress. Also, no significant correlation was found between sleep disturbances and epilepsy. Finally, a statistical correlation was found between the regular intake of melatonin and the resolution of insomnia.ConclusionsMultifactorial variables may be associated to insomnia that could have an impact on the children' behavior. Clinicians need to be aware of the value of screening for sleep disturbance in children with ASD to integrate sleep interventions in the treatment plan.

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“…The correlation between these two disorders is known especially with regard to ASD and the link seems to be bidirectional. Indeed, if on the one hand the sleep disorder worsens cognitive skills and stereotypies, on the other hand it has been shown that treatments aimed at reducing stereotypical behaviors also improve sleep quality [ 45 , 46 ]. It is likely that also in subjects with PKS a similar mechanism is present.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Cognitive, Behavioral, and Sensory Profile of Pallister–Killian Syndrome: A Prospective Study of 22 Individuals

Fetta

Soliani

Trevisan

et al. 2022

Genes

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Background: Developmental delay and intellectual disability are two pivotal elements of the phenotype of Pallister–Killian Syndrome (PKS). Our study aims to define the cognitive, adaptive, behavioral, and sensory profile of these patients and to evaluate possible correlations between the different aspects investigated and with the main clinical and demographic variables. Methods: Individuals of any age with genetically confirmed PKS were recruited. Those ≤42 months were administered the Bayley Scales of Infant and Toddler Development Third Edition (Bayley-III), and those >42 months the Vineland Adaptive Behavior Scales—Second Edition (Vineland-II). Stereotyped behaviors (Stereotypy Severity Scale, SSS) and aggressive behaviors (Behavior Problems Inventory—Short Version, BPIs) were assessed in all subjects >1 year; sensory profile (Child Sensory Profile 2, C-SP2) in all aged 2–18 years. Results: Twenty-two subjects were enrolled (11 F/11 M; age 9 months to 28 years). All subjects ≤42 months had psychomotor developmental delay. Of the subjects >42 months, 15 had low IQ deviation, and 1 in the normal range. Stereotypies were frequent (median SSS-total score 25/68). Lower Vineland-II values corresponded to greater intensity and frequency of stereotypies (p = 0.004 and p = 0.003), and self-injurious behaviors (p = 0.002 and p = 0.002). Patients with severe low vision had greater interference of stereotypies (p = 0.027), and frequency and severity of aggressive behaviors (p = 0.026; p = 0.032). The C-SP2, while not homogeneous across subjects, showed prevalence of low registration and sensory seeking profiles and hypersensitivity to tactile and auditory stimuli. Lower Vineland-II scores correlated with higher Registration scores (p = 0.041), while stereotypies were more frequent and severe in case of high auditory sensitivity (p = 0.019; p = 0.007). Finally, greater sleep impairment correlated with stereotypies and self-injurious behaviors, and lower Vineland-II scores. Conclusions: The present study provides a further step in the investigation of the etiopathogenesis of the syndrome. Furthermore, these aspects could guide rehabilitation therapy through the identification of targeted protocols.

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The Relationship between Sleep and Cognitive Performance in Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD): A Pilot Study

Cited by 8 publications

References 39 publications

Sleep and Cognition in Children with Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders (FASD) and Children with Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD)

Sleep and Cognition in Children with Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders (FASD) and Children with Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD)

Sleep Disturbances in Children Affected by Autism Spectrum Disorder

Cognitive, Behavioral, and Sensory Profile of Pallister–Killian Syndrome: A Prospective Study of 22 Individuals

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