Research links disrupted baby sleep patterns with increased odds of autism diagnosis
New Delhi, May 12: Infants who sleep less or experience poor-quality sleep may be at a higher risk of developing autism, according to a large-scale study conducted in Australia. The research, which tracked over 1,000 mother-infant pairs, highlights sleep quality in early infancy as a potential early indicator of autism spectrum disorder.The findings were published in the journal Archives of Disease in Childhood and indicate that an increase in night-time sleep by just one hour at six months of age is associated with fewer autism characteristics by the age of two and four years.
Early Sleep Patterns Could Help Predict Autism Risk
Researchers from The Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health, among others, collected sleep-related data through parent surveys at six and 12 months of age. Later, these parents reported signs of autism-like behaviors when their children turned two and four.The study found that every five-minute increase in sleep latency — the time it takes for a baby to fall asleep — was linked to a 1.5 percent rise in autism characteristics and a 7.7 percent higher likelihood of an autism diagnosis.
“Poor infant sleep quality was linked to increased autism characteristics and diagnosis odds in a representative Australian sample,” the researchers stated.
Melatonin Use Highlights Sleep-Autism Connection
Out of the total participants, 64 children were diagnosed with autism before the age of 12. Among them, 42 percent had used melatonin supplements in the previous month. Melatonin, a hormone that regulates sleep-wake cycles, is often deficient in individuals with autism, leading to persistent sleep disturbances.Insomnia and related issues are common in children with autism and are believed to be connected to heightened brain activity. These disruptions may hinder emotional regulation and social skill development in early childhood.
Study Emphasizes Early Monitoring and Intervention
The researchers believe that tracking infant sleep behavior could play a valuable role in early autism detection. Identifying babies with prolonged sleep latency or irregular sleep durations could help initiate timely developmental assessments.“Infant sleep characteristics have the potential to serve as one indicator for identifying infants who could benefit from autism monitoring, thereby facilitating early diagnosis,” the authors concluded.
This insight may also inform the development of supportive, evidence-based interventions aimed at improving long-term outcomes for children diagnosed with autism.
