Sleep deprivation in adults has long been proven to cause long-term mental and physical health issues, including, but not limited to, weakened immune systems, weight gain, depression, and increased risk of dementia. But why does lack of sleep have such steep consequences? Sleep actually plays a crucial role from the moment we are born. As babies, our brains are still forming the ends of neurons, called synapses, that are important in learning, attention, working memory, and long-term memory.
Sleep allows these neurons to develop and connect with one another, establishing brain functions for the remainder of life. If this delicate, but important process was to be disrupted either through constant waking or separation anxiety, it could have lasting effects on the brain and behavior. Now, a new study led by Sean Gay, a graduate student in the lab of Graham Diering, PhD, assistant professor in the Department of Cell Biology and Physiology at the UNC School of Medicine, has given us more insights into how sleep loss during early life impacts key parts of brain development - and how it can also increase one's risk for developing autism spectrum disorder (ASD).
Their findings were published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences . The unique effects of sleep loss during development are largely unexplored. Our data show that babies and children are more vulnerable to the negative effects of sleep disruption.
We also found that sleep loss during this crucial period of .