Statement on the following research paper:

Livolsi A, Niederhoffer N, Dali-Youcef N, Rambaud C, Olexa C, Mokni W, Gies JP, Bousquet P. Cardiac muscarinic receptor overexpression in sudden infant death syndrome. PLoS ONE 2010; 5 (3): e9464.
doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0009464

Livolsi, Bousquet and colleagues from Strasbourg have published an excellent piece of research comparing neurotransmitter receptors in the heart between infants who died of SIDS and control infants dying of other causes. They found a statistically significant difference in the levels of a particular receptor (muscarinic receptors) in the SIDS cases. SIDS is generally understood to result from a vulnerable infant at a particular developmental stage being exposed to specific environmental stressors. This research may help to explain why some infants are particularly vulnerable. As the authors point out, further research is needed to see if their results can be replicated elsewhere, to further understand the normal development of neurotransmitter receptors in the heart, and how an overexpression of these receptors might act to increase vulnerability.

The environmental risk factors linked to SIDS, including parental smoking and unsafe sleeping environments have been well documented. Regardless of any underlying causes of infant vulnerability, those risk factors remain. Whilst this study provides a useful step forward in SIDS research, all parents can continue to take steps to minimise the risks of SIDS by following the reduce the risk messages.

 

Statement on the following research paper:

Duncan JR, Paterson DS, Hoffman JM, Mokler DJ, Borenstein NS, Belliveau RA, Krous HF, Haas EA, Stanley C, Nattie EE, Trachtenberg FL, Kinney HC. Brainstem serotonergic deficiency in Sudden Infant Death Syndrome. JAMA 2010; 303 (5): 430-437.
Abstract

The findings of this important research paper support what we know from earlier studies about the involvement of serotonin in SIDS: babies who die of SIDS show differences in their medullary serotoninergic system, which controls blood pressure, breathing, temperature regulation and arousal from sleep. We still do not know why these differences occur. Genetics may play a part as well as environmental factors like smoking. At present, a test on serotonin levels can only be conducted after death, so there is no possibility of identifying those at risk.
 
But parents can help to protect their babies by following the reduce the risk advice.