ST. LOUIS, MO (KTVI-FOX2now.com) -
A new study may explain what causes SIDS or Sudden Infant Death Syndrome in some babies. It's a promising report that suggests low levels of serotonin in the brain may be linked to SIDS. While the study can't prevent it, it offers encouraging news to parents who have lost children to SIDS. Kevin and Dionne Terrell loss their beautiful baby girl, Lola, to SIDs, five years ago.
"She was awesome. She was beautiful, perfectly healthy, absolutely nothing wrong with her. She went down for a nap and didn't wake up."
The Terrells say Lola was a precious, healthy three-month-old. "No coughs, no sneezes, no sniffles, just perfectly healthy, happy. She was a good baby."
The Terrells don't know why Lola succumbed to SIDs, however a new study, published in the Journal of the American Medical Association suggests, there may be a link to SIDs and low levels of serotonin in the brain. Dr. Hannah C. Kinney of Children's Hospital Boston explains, "if you have a deficiency in these serotonin pathways that regulate vital functions during sleep and in response to challenges an infant may go on to die during sleep,"
Serotonin is a chemical found in the brain stem. It helps regulate blood pressure and breathing. Dr. Bradley Thach is a leading researcher on SIDs. He works at Washington University. Thach applauds the new study, but says at this point, it's only theory and parents shouldn't get too excited. "They speculate that the babies have decreased arousal from sleep and don't wake up in time to turn their heads or avoid whatever problem that causes suffocation."
SIDs is the leading cause of death of babies between one and twelve months old. While the new study can't prevent it, it offers a sense of comfort to Kevin and Dionne Terrell, who suffered a devastating loss. "It's the first thing we can wrap our arms around and think finally they're starting to get something figured out."
The Terrells say Lola was a precious, healthy three-month-old. "No coughs, no sneezes, no sniffles, just perfectly healthy, happy. She was a good baby."
The Terrells don't know why Lola succumbed to SIDs, however a new study, published in the Journal of the American Medical Association suggests, there may be a link to SIDs and low levels of serotonin in the brain. Dr. Hannah C. Kinney of Children's Hospital Boston explains, "if you have a deficiency in these serotonin pathways that regulate vital functions during sleep and in response to challenges an infant may go on to die during sleep,"
Serotonin is a chemical found in the brain stem. It helps regulate blood pressure and breathing. Dr. Bradley Thach is a leading researcher on SIDs. He works at Washington University. Thach applauds the new study, but says at this point, it's only theory and parents shouldn't get too excited. "They speculate that the babies have decreased arousal from sleep and don't wake up in time to turn their heads or avoid whatever problem that causes suffocation."
SIDs is the leading cause of death of babies between one and twelve months old. While the new study can't prevent it, it offers a sense of comfort to Kevin and Dionne Terrell, who suffered a devastating loss. "It's the first thing we can wrap our arms around and think finally they're starting to get something figured out."
