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.
Last week, Mr Modi had not only urged the state governments to take action against those who take law into their hands in the name of cow protection, but also called them anti-social elements.
Comments
Cows need Z+ Security.....
Buffalo's will be worshipped on father's day.....ha ha.....
Can cow god mate on street? Please build Goshaalays before making Sauchaalay......other cow Vidhya balan......ha ha
Mr Pumpwell,,,,,Pls go to Bhatkal Police station, and find out ..who placed the Meat bag in the Nagabana recently..... All criminals.... They themselves do all kinds of anti social acts and blame the other community members...
All these RSS supported goonda gangs are worried of PM's statement. In the name of Gow rakshak they used to make
a very good money. They themselves used to transport the cow and sell the cow. They used to get the haftha from each truck or van who transports cow. Now they worried about their business.
This sharan is doing a lots of money in the name of \hindusm\". These are the real anti hindus. They are spoiling good religion name for their benefit. First of all intelligent department has to check these goons leaders , from where they get huge money and vehicle for their illegal operations."
Let first chaddi Indian army protect our Kashmir, later they are welcome to save your so called \GO MATHA\"."
I really dont understand why GOD need protection that too an ARMY.Being a GOD why can not he save himself.Then how can a GOD protect his beliver's like Sharan.
i thank D Souza but he is unaware that even in HIndu authentic scriptures eating cow meat is holy not an offense
these days criminals are heroes of the nation , definition of nationalist has been changed to RSS , HA HA HA
In Islam drinikg alchohol and selling is prohibited equally ,why you Govt export it without any cowraskshak firewall and restrict inside India , dont you think is a joke , its a created job to kill with licence the humans to save animal , this must be stopped
Pumpwell is partner with Somnath in beef exports ... May be he is losing his profit... but everything will be EXPOSED in near future.
mr sharan quickly go and break the leg of those bjp leaders who export your so called gou matha meat
Dear Sharan Bhai,
Also write him to stop exporting beef to worldwide....
Do you think that government of India exporting beef without killing the cows, in such case it is more painful to Gomaatha, Please don't be stupid stop making drama in the name of cow...
In foreign countries every hypermarket and supermarkets selling Indian beef..from where these beef coming could you ask Mr. Modi about it and to order for a inquiry on it....or let him announce that flesh of Gomaatha only for export not for self use..
If you need more information... we will start a photo campaign of the Indian beef counters in different countries of the world...
We need soldiers to protect cow meat export from various airports and seaports.....
I think SHARAN PUMPwell is ignorant of his own scriptures...
The Aryans of the Rig Veda did KILL Cows for purposes of food and ate beef in abundantly clear from Rig Veda itself. In RV (X86.14) Indra says : They COOK for one 15 plus twenty OXEN.
The RV (X91.14) says that for AGNI were sacrificed horses, bulls, oxen, BARREN COWS and rams. From Rig Veda (X.72.6) It appears that the COW was killed with a Sword or AXE.
He is also ignorant of the indian law too..
How can people follow this IGNORANT & Dig their own hell to themselves as well as their families (Just lyk NAMO leader who was on the run and now behind bars without any bail.. He may getaway but his family is suffering also the family of the victims are suffering. How come these intelligent people does not recognize the evil in this?????????
Mr. sharan,
DO you agree law and order is equal for all. Even if you belongs to rowdy dal or a common man, who gave you permission to assault or humiliate someone in the name of cow.. Be human first then be a rakshak to humans first other animals comes in later stage. Think like a man not like animal.
Dont make your own rules. be cool man..
who are u to protect the cow and take law in your hand
police will take care, why u people behave like goondaas in mangalore karnataka
if cow is holy ... then it is only for ur hindhu religion not applicable for others
need to protect our country and women from rapists then go for special cow , u request to bring the army to karnataka for saving cow.. u r good joker of mangalore
Dear Brother Sharan,
Cows as you were described as 'GOD' need food not the ARMY. Please visit north India and see how your GODS Been treated. Dear Sharan please send some food stuffs to Rajasthan so that we can save your GODS.
Let's stop consuming the cheap Indian exported cow meat
also reminded the PM of an existing provision in section 40 of CrPC that empowers citizens to arrest those who commit cognizable offences.
So Mangaloreans have the Liberty to Arrest Mr Pumpwell for Attacking Muslims and committing many offences in Past as per his crpc40 section?
Viren.. good to see you against Modi...ha ha..
Sharan ....will this letter reach the pm...?
Since govt. has failed to protect minorities from RSS terrorism due to shortage of police force in the state/country then according to Pimpwell logic Muslims should form Minority Army to protect people from RSS terrorism.
He said, It's holy animal. Can some one elaborate how it is HOLY????
Mr pump well if you feel cow is God then better make a round to panambur or baikampady area and see how cows are lying on the road. With food ,
I request all muslims to stop eating beef. Big full stop. We can survive in other ways.
But if we do it..
Will the so called cow protectors promise us they will stop this violence and mess.?
Will the govt stop exporting cow meat?
Will they agree that they will not being another animal as holy god after this?
Lets finish it totally in a decent wAy.
I am in gulf, the indian beef is on cheap offer price now, but still i dont buy it. Its my way of protest against indian beef exporters and govt. any indian meat i dont buy.
Viren Kotian, Udupi,
You need to protect? Do you have any idea about those protected cows in Rajastan and Gujrat? Cows are dying there without food, dead bodies are stinking there and your Gau protectors are not to be seen taking care of them.
Tell your pumpwell to send his Dal to those place to clean up the mess.
A day will come when all these Bajrangi/Hindutva street fighters will teach a lesson to their own masters. That will be the end of RSS.
Good move by Sharan Pumpwell. Why we need to protect? let the centre send Army and shoot down cattle transporters. Anti nationals will start protesting. Let the Army curb the protesters too just like they did in Kashmir.
As per ICRA, Indian Buffalo meat(read as Beef) exports from India to reach to Rs.40,000/- crores in five years reported Business Standard newspaper. PM Modi has to look after the interests of exporters mostly upper caste Hindus and Jains.
Wait a minute....1st of all which law says not to kill the cow...Karnataka govt. Or central govt. Never banned the cow slaughter...... If the law is from ur religious book then it only apply to those who believe in it.... Not us........don't bark anything in media.......youngsters r watching u
First let them protect our women from rapist, law also don't permit to rape or take law in your hand, then what law are you talking about.if you are really worried about the law then allow the police to their work instead of you guys taking law in hand and torturing the innocent.
First let them protect our women from rapist, law also don't permit to rape or take law in your hand, then what law are you talking about. if you are really worried about the law then allow the police to their work instead of you guys taking law in hand and torturing the innocent.
Can any one explain the income of Sharan Pumpwel? what is his monthly income? what is his business? How he earn money?
Eligible for next PM post.
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