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.
According to the reports, Shahnawaz, a resident of Uttar Pradesh's Saharanpur district, about 500 km from here, called his wife a few days ago and pronounced the word talaq' thrice and severed all relations with her.
Comments
He is a crazy without having any knowledge of islam. He only knows Talaq but does not know how to implement or follow it. such people are bringing shame to muslims and Islam. He should apologise for this great mistake and ask for pardon from Allah. May Allah give him right knowledge of Islam.
Rikacha ....idu democracy kanappa ....sumne avara paadige avaranna bidakke agalla ...crimes ge nimge non sharia beku ...kabbaddi adakke personal laws beku ...haha......hogappa ...eradu peg haaki ...bidko ...ohh ivattu yaava college hathra nu beat hogilla anths kanuthe raja Alva adikke....
I don't understand why non Muslims are more interested then Muslims to discuss about this subject. Mind your own business guys....don't disturb Muslims...they know what is good for them....
Very bad ...women are considered as property and I met one divorcee but well educated ..her husband left her just becoz she had baby girl ..he is roaming freely in India and she was in trauma ...later one good hearted married her ..of course he is a Hindu ...now they stay in Singapore only ...to send sexual abuse and polygamy ..govt must bring strong rules ....
Request everyone to watch video on triple talaq by Br.Imran. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MwNAgNNE-lI
This is an ignorant act to Claim a divorce, Divorce, in Islam is the most uncalled act for any man or women. The conditions and procedures are highly thoughtful & very clearly mentioned in Quran. A short example of one of the conditions: A triple Talaq doesnt mean reciting the word thrice & done, but, Giving a waiting period of 1 month to resolute and try to improve in between each claim of Talaq.
I would wish the commentators here just go through what the Quran says from the right source and understand the integrity of Justice given to both gender. This holds good for generations that's passed and for future to come.
When such incidents happens..
its a way Non Muslims & Some ignorant Muslims will know the reality of the divine law.
We Muslims know that Devils are most happy when couple part...
So a true Muslims will try to stay together as much as they can save their marriage form splitting each other.. and There is an option for the couple who could not go along with the partner.. (For eg : if the husband is dunkard and wife have a chance to give khula (talaq) or if the wife is dunkard and husband can have the option of giving talaq despite several warnings to quit the habit)
WE see compared to other religions, Muslim divorce rate is very less...
I would request the Non Muslims and the ignorant muslims who misuse this divine law to look the answers from the source or please check below video
\Br.imran Answering About Triple Talaq To a Non Muslim Sister\"
Well EXPLAINED .."
I don't know why the other part of women's right in Islam is not highlighted to public....they forgot how sita was left back in the jungle with luv and kush....can we know the reason please.......
If there is rift between couples, if every ways of compromise failed to unite them... is there any other solution other than divorce ? whether he proclaimed thru phone or writing letter or any other valid means , discussion on 'way of talaq' is second option.. discussion on 'condition of couple's relationship' should be first option for discussion...
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