NEW YORK (AP) — A recent study published in the journal Neurology suggests that researchers may have identified a potential cause of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS), also known as “crib death.” According to the study, brief seizures accompanied by muscle convulsions could be responsible for some of these tragic and unexplained deaths that affect thousands of families in the United States each year.
The study, conducted by a team of researchers at New York University, analyzed more than 300 cases in the SUDC Registry and Research Collaborative. The researchers found that in seven cases, death was likely caused by seizures, and the convulsions were found to have lasted for less than 60 seconds.
Lead researcher Dr. Laura Gould, who established the SUDC Registry and Research Collaborative at NYU Langone after losing her own daughter to SUDC, stated that the study offers the first direct evidence that seizures may be responsible for some sudden deaths in children, particularly those that occur during sleep.
The findings provide critical insight into these tragic events and may also shed light on other unexplained deaths, including those related to SIDS and epilepsy, according to study senior investigator and neurologist Dr. Orrin Devinsky.
While researchers have previously noted a connection between SUDC and seizures, they emphasize that further research is needed to fully understand how seizures can lead to death. The recent breakthrough in identifying a potential cause for these mysterious deaths has brought hope to families affected by SUDC, offering the reassurance that these deaths were not their fault.
In addition to the study on seizures, another team of researchers has suggested a potential link between low levels of a blood enzyme called butyrylcholinesterase (BChE) and SIDS. These recent findings have provided new insights into potential causes of these tragic deaths, offering hope for prevention and intervention in the future.