Washington D.C., May 8: The prime time for brain development in a child's life is the first year, where the infant spends most of the time asleep. It is the time when neural connections form and sensory memories are encoded.
However, when sleep is disrupted, as occurs more often among children with autism, brain development may be affected, too.
New research led by the University of Washington finds that sleep problems in a baby's first 12 months may not only precede an autism diagnosis but also may be associated with altered growth trajectory in a key part of the brain, the hippocampus.
The study, which was published in the American Journal of Psychiatry, researchers report that in a sample of more than 400 taken of 6- to 12-month-old infants, those who were later diagnosed with autism were more likely to have had difficulty falling asleep.
It also states that this sleep difficulty was associated with altered growth trajectories in the hippocampus.
"The hippocampus is critical for learning and memory, and changes in the size of the hippocampus have been associated with poor sleep in adults and older children.
As many as 80 per cent of the children with autism spectrum disorder have sleep problems," said Annette Estes, director of the UW Autism Center and senior author of the study.
"In our clinical experience, parents have a lot of concerns about their children's sleep, and in our work on early autism intervention, we observed that sleep problems were holding children and families back," added Estes, who is also a UW professor of speech and hearing sciences.
"It could be that altered sleep is part-and-parcel of autism for some children. One clue is that behavioural interventions to improve sleep don't work for all children with autism, even when their parents are doing everything just right. This suggests that there may be a biological component to sleep problems for some children with autism," said Estes.
To consider links among sleep, brain development, and autism, researchers at the IBIS Network looked at MRI scans of 432 infants, surveyed parents about sleep patterns, and measured cognitive functioning using a standardized assessment.
At the outset of the study, infants were classified according to their risk for developing autism: Those who were at higher risk of developing autism -- about two-thirds of the study sample -- had an older sibling who had already been diagnosed.
Infant siblings of children with autism have a 20 per cent chance of developing autism spectrum disorder -- a much higher risk than children in the general population.
In the current study, 127 of the 432 infants were identified as "low risk" at the time the MRI scans were taken because they had no family history of autism.
They later evaluated all the participants at 24 months of age to determine whether they had developed autism. Of the roughly 300 children originally considered "high familial risk," 71 were diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder at that age.
Problems with sleep were more common among the infants later diagnosed with an autism spectrum disorder, as were larger hippocampi. No other subcortical brain structures were affected, including the amygdala, which is responsible for certain emotions and aspects of memory, or the thalamus, a signal transmitter from the spinal cord to the cerebral cortex.
The authors note that while parents reported more sleep difficulties among infants who developed autism compared to those who did not, the differences were very subtle and only observed when looking at group averages across hundreds of infants.
Sleep patterns in the first years of life change rapidly as infants transition from sleeping around the clock to a more adult-like sleep/wake cycle. Until further research is completed, Estes said, it is not possible to interpret challenges with sleep as an early sign of increased risk for autism.
The ‘case’, filed in the court of the chief judicial magistrate (CJM), sought to be made out against Ram is that his conduct showed him wanting in the treatment of women.
Comments
Dear Sameer,
What can i say, if a Bat hung upside down and laughs at the topsy turvy world. The Bat is also right in its point of view.
I do not benefit from what others have to believe.
So let him follow what he feels right.
Dear Suresh, Its not matter of brilliant or stupid Mr. Kiran Kumar has logically explained the fact and reality, which being hindu I do 100% agree.
Sameer,
Regarding Kiran kumar's comments, i can only say \If we all were so brilliant like him, then today everyone of us would have been Scientist \"
one of his point I agree, real religion is Humanity, love and compassion towards fellow being and all living being on earth.
God is great.. Jai shri Ram, Jai shri krishna,"
Suresh, what you say about Mr. Kiran Kumar comment!!!
Wake up man!!!
Dear Ahmed Ali K.
Yes just by looking at the story isn't it true that at a point of time even you felt that Narada is more powerful than Lord Vishnu himself. This greatness Lord vishnu.
God will never want his devotees, his saints, to be humbled or humiliated, insulted at anytime.
Its is Lord vishnus way of telling we people what is the importance the value, dignity of a revered saint, devotee, guru in his eyes.
The story of how Lord vishnu disguises himself for his devotees
for Sena barber, Lord vishu/hari takes form of Barber and cuts hair of the Sultan.
for Bhakta Kumbhar, Lord hari comes down as a servant and does all pottery work.
for Bhaka Sakubhai, Lord vishnu comes down as daughter-in-law and does all household work and take care of her in-laws till she returns from pilgrimage from Pandarpur.
For Saint Namdev, he comes down to eat prasad at the famous Pandarpur vithala temple.
And the List is endless.
There are more knowledgeable people than me who can explain better.
Jai shri Krishna, Jai Sri Ram.
@Irfan - As of now there are many many good peoples like you living on earth. He will certainly come, when there is not a single good person like you left on earth, then god will manifest himself in some form.
Hope you got it. Jai shri Ram.
Oyee Naren you should look at this now.... This is funny really! Where are you guys why no protest now??
Ramayana, Mahabharata both were frictions/scripts like movie stories written by normal human being Valkimi & Vyasa. Unfortunate that we blindly believe/follow such frictions and ignore the real religion that is called Humanity!!
In reality there is only one super power that's called GOD, who is controlling this entire universe!!
@ Suresh,
present scenario Adharma is increasing why your God is not coming in any form, he is tired or in deep sleep.
Hey Ram, Kya kaliyug agaya !
Dear Suresh
For Clarification only
If Vishnu is a \LORD\" and how can Narada curse a lord?
In this cases Narada is powerful and he should be given higher position"
'He does not have a material form'(na tasya pratima asti).He is transcendental.However matter too comes from God. It is God's energy/potency. He being all powerful can choose to manifest Himself in a material form. That is called a deity not idol. Hence it is deity worship not idol worship. Also idol is a imaginary form, however the material image created is based on detailed description of Sri Krsna. Therefore it is not imaginary.
Islam is not revealed scripture. It provides no clear conception of God. It has created an imaginary personality called Satan and yet blame others for 'idolatry'!!
Dear SURESH,
Ekam evadvitiyam - He is ONE only without a Second.(Chandogya Upanishad 6:2:1)1
Na Casya Kasc ij Janita na Cadhipah - Of him there are neither parents nor Lord. (Svetasvatar Upanishad 6:9)2
What U are telling is stories made by some people who deviated U guys from the true one God..
How can U believe such ill made up Gods who are falling for curses & monkey... .Please use your god given intellectual. & identify what QURAN says about GOD and compare it with what U claim to be God.
Lord Vishnu's incarnation as Sri Rama, was becoz of curse of Narada.
When Narda once insisted Lord vishnu, what is \Maya\", then the next moment Narada was in Maya. He fell in love with beautiful princess whom he wished to marry. So Narada prayed to Lord vishnu that he get the face of \"HARI\" Lord vishnu's face and lord vishnu granted him the wish. But the other meaning of HARI is monkey. So narada got the face of Monkey. Thus Narada Cursed Lord Vishnu, that he may be born as Human being, undergo pain suffering of separations from wife and children. Thus lord Vishnu took 7th incarnation as Sri Rama and this was all pre destined. Infact the purpose of curse of narada was also pre destined. The whole purpose was to anihiliate the Demon King Ravana, and cleansing the earth of evils.
Nothing new. \"Whenever there is decline of dharma and increase of Adharma, then the lord manifest himself for protection of the pious, the destruction of the evil doers and establishing virtue. Thus the Lord manifest himself in every age in one form or the other.\"
Nothing new, people please stop -(being silly, talk silly and doing silly things around). Please read Ramayana, Chant Lord Rama's name and and be happy. In the end only this name will liberate your soul.
Jai Sri Ram."
Put rape and cheating case against Lord Krishna as he raped lot of Hindu girls...what a shame God
Dear Manohar,
Ur divine book also mentioned that GOD is one & Na tasya pratima asti...There is no image of God -
Then How come some people made the pious human being as GOD. as there is no image of God..
We request honestly to look & research your divine book & find the TRUTH behind worshiping the idols...
Suppose Ram found guilty, what type of punishment the Honarable Judge will deliver and how he will be punished??
For sure, He is not God
He was Born & He died same like WE people.. So he is a human just like us... People who are smart will know the reality behind such deception of making human god and collecting money... God doesnt need money... But God ask people to give money to the POOR and not himself..
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