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.
K Shivaraj, a native of Mysuru and DKS Haleema Shaheen of Mangaluru met each other while studying at a college in Mangaluru and fell in love. After studies, the duo wanted to start a business and had even got their business project sanctioned by the Karnataka Udyog Mitra in 2014. They decided to enter the wedlock. After the girl faced stiff resistance from her parents, the duo eloped and exchanged nuptial vows at a temple in Mysuru in May 2015.
Comments
How do u all know them ?
Haleema you sold heaven and you purchased hell...
Islam teaches us 'A slave Muslim men is better for a Muslim girl than a rich kaafir . Same way a slave Muslim women is better for a Muslim men than a rich kaafira women'
There is no compulsion in religion of islam. We are free to follow any system but final decision with Allah, He will decide who followed his way or who are the loser. May Allah guide us to right path. Ameen
SEE HER FACE, CAN UNDERSTAND THE SITUATION,VIREN YOU ARE RIGHT BUT A SENTENCE IS WRONG SHE WENT FROM BRIGHTNESS TO DARKNESS.
I agree with Fathima's view. It was unfortunate that the girl in the name of love forgot the beauty of Islam.
There are many instances in Mangalore where Muslim girl married a Hindu boy and after a year boy converted to Islam. No wonder if this culminates the same way. Moreover u will find hundreds of famous personalities embracing Islam such as Tony Blair's sister Lauren booth, BBC journalist Yvonne Ridley and so on but u will not find vise versa. Keep hope and prayers and ignore barking kotians.
Let us pray for kotiyan brightness family !!....May Allah protect your family & children in future .... There is chance to convert !
Every Say Ameeen!
Kotiyan Nikk P---Tiye Yaa\\"\"\"\"\"n"
mr kotian do u know how many hindu married muslims converted to islam and workind in uae you study well about islam and later on u will also change
mr kotian do you know how many hindu men who married to muslim converted to islam and working here in dubai, first study about islam and later on u wil change your mind
mr kotian do you know how many hindu men married muslim converted to muslim again and working here in dubai study first about islam then you will also come to islam There is no caste system in islam like brahman harijan etc
No need to judge anybody. Only Allah knows whats the future and how their end will be. It may be good and wonderful than we expect. Better than our life may be, nobody knows. So keep hope . If possible pray for them and dont judge.
Viren @ its opposite its to dark from brightness and secondly its her parent to blame , they didnt teach her what is islam .
Viren chadi by name only we cant judge chadi,its should come through Heart.
Just wait for 3 to 4 month, he will leave her .
i like it ... i like it ... Jai sri ram ... as Viren bhai said ,.. inshallah it will happen soon .. too much of compression and male domination in islam... they treat women as property not as human being ... i heard that shivraj rejected haleema's fathers offer of crore rupees inexchange of his daughtor ... it means guy has not married this gal for money sake .. true love ... they must be protected as they might get attacked from Islamic thugs from coastal ...hahaha... this is just the begining ... there are lakhs of muslim women who want to escape from this sikka patte piece ful religion ...
We as an Indian should be united but look what always we see partitioned. no wonder how easily British invaded India.
I know some of them are happy seeing this news. And i admit it is because of your ignorance you are happy. Almighty has his own concept of human life n death. There are 4 categorised people.
1. Ones who r born muslim and dies as a muslim
2. Ones who r born muslim and dies as a non muslim.
3.Ones born as anon muslim and dies as a non muslim.
4.Ones born as a non muslim and dies as a muslim.
Last category people are the most successful people in this world and hereafter no doubt about it. 2nd category people are the ones destroying their own destiny and lands in great trouble hereafter. No one neither their life-partner nor their parents can save them from torments of hell fire.
May Allah make our death beautiful and grant us to die as a muslim.
May Allah guide her n all of us.
@ viren kotian
quran, islam never force anyone to covert to islam.. in quran Allah says tell the truth to them until they understand the truth
even after that they don't want to accept the islam its up to them.. its our responsibi
Thank you CD for this wonderful news.
And Yes, Viren we all are there with this brave woman. no terrorist can touch her.
Insha Allah more muslim girls will throw away their burkas and accept hinduism in future..
Mr viren ur wrong,,,,, from the brightness to darkness,,,,
Welcome to the light from the darkness Ms haleema. We are with you! hahahah Lol Lol Lol..
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