South Australian researchers make major breakthrough into cause of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome

A SOUTH Australian study has found strong evidence of a link in cases of babies who die while sleeping face down, giving families hope the key to preventing Sudden Infant Death Syndrome is around the corner.

• SA SIDS study finds infant death link to brain chemical

A BREAKTHROUGH South Australian study has found a strong link in cases of babies who die of sudden infant death syndrome, giving families hope the key to unlocking the tragic cause of death is closer.

The world first research has confirmed a link between a brain chemical called Substance P and babies who died of SIDS.

SIDS is the sudden unexpected death of an infant under 12 months of age that cannot be explained after a thorough investigation.

Dr Fiona Bright, a PhD graduate from the University of Adelaide, and Professor Roger Byard, of the university’s Medical School, investigated 55 cases of SIDS and uncovered the reason why babies shouldn’t sleep face down.

They found the babies who died of SIDS all had lower levels of Substance P in the brain compared to those who died of other causes.

Substance P, which is helps control head and neck movement, is a particular chemical that also plays a critical role in the brain’s control of the respiratory system, the cardiovascular system and in how the body responds to deprivation of oxygen.

“For a long time we’ve known that sleeping in the face down position is a risk factor for SIDS,” Dr Bright said.

“A normal infant (with regular levels of Substance P) would be able to remove themselves from that environment if they experience low oxygen.

“But because of this chemical because decreased in the brain, SIDs babies are unable to move themselves, turn their head or neck and we believe they’re unable to remove themselves from that dangerous environment and alert their parents they’re experiencing low oxygen.”

Dr Bright said the study also revealed the abnormality in the brain chemical was significantly influenced in babies who are born premature and also in males.

She said this latest research could help pave the way for a cure.

“Hopefully we can work towards a biomarker, a blood test or genetic screening at birth or prior to birth to identify babies that could be at significant risk of these abnormalities in the brain,” she said.

“Now this will hopefully give parents more of an insight into what we believe is going on.

“We can’t prevent this (yet) ... but a test could save babies in the future.”

Dr Byard said the new research was a key reason why it is more dangerous for babies to sleep on their front and now “we have a much better understanding of why”.

The research, conducted in collaboration with Harvard Medical School and Boston Children’s Hospital, was funded under a Fellowship established by River’s Gift SIDS charity, founded in 2011 by two parents who lost their four-month-old son River to SIDS.

Originally published as South Australian researchers make major breakthrough into cause of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome