Researchers at the University of Adelaide have discovered evidence in the brain’s of babies who have died from SIDS which indicates a breathing problem.

Chemical clues in the brains of SIDS victims now indicate a link to breathing problems.

The chemical staining on the brain looks similar to that of babies who have died of accidental asphyxiation.

This clue may have already helped to save the life of a sibling of a SIDS victim, the doctors identified sleep apnoea in the sibling, which may have helped prevent a double tragedy in this family.

This study at the University of Adelaide looked at 182 children aged 0-2 who died from trauma, drowning, asphyxia and SIDS, they were looking for the presence of a protein known as APP. The amount of the distribution of this staining on the brain in all 48 samples from children who died from SIDS looks very similar to that of children who had died from asphyxia.

This information has helped researcher’s know the mechanism, not necessarily the cause of death.

Even after decades of research and progress in preventative measures (which have resulted in less lives lost) , the true cause remains a mystery and medical and family history provide no insight to help prevent or predict it.

Never the less this is a wonderful discovery and I am a firm believer that knowledge is a good thing, I am certain this knowledge will be help with future studies and one day we will have a “why”, answer.

In the mean time continue to follow safe sleep practises and sleep well!

Actual scientific paper for all you geeks can be found here….

Read my safe sleep blog…..