Wednesday, November 01, 2006

Brainstem abnormality linked with SIDS

ScienceDaily
"The latest research, led by David Paterson and colleagues at Children's Hospital Boston and the Harvard Medical School, compared brain tissue from 31 infants who died of SIDS with samples from 10 babies who died of other causes.


The scientists focused on an area of the brainstem called the medulla, which regulates breathing, sleep-and-wake cycles and other vital functions, The New York Times reported.
The results of the study suggest a physical abnormality, most likely genetic, interferes with how neurons process serotonin and might lead to a diagnostic test for SIDS risk."