The mechanisms of sleep remain somewhat of a mystery. We do know, however, that sleep is the key to growth, development, and the process of removing toxins from our brains. Yet good sleep doesn’t come easily to everyone.
For a variety of reasons, falling and staying asleep night after night can be difficult for some adults and children. Moms can also expose babies to pathogens or an imbalance of good-to-bad bugs. Babies might also have microbiome deficiencies.
Two common causes of deficiencies are cesarean delivery and early antibiotic exposure. “The most significant associations between sleep habits, gut microbiota, and behavioral outcomes were found at 3 months of age, potentially identifying an early sensitive period for later functionality of sleep rhythm and gut microbial balance,” the authors wrote, noting that helping renormalize gut microbes or sleep patterns could help prevent developmental delays and disorders. Those who went to bed before 9:30 p.
m. had significant differences in gut bacteria species, including more diverse and beneficial microbes that have been correlated with health. One such bacterium, Akkermansia muciniphila (A.
muciniphila), had an indirect role in helping the body remove damaged cells and improve cognition. Our autonomic nervous system keeps our bodies humming even during sleep, regulating bodily processes like heart rate, blood pressure, breathing, and digestion. Autonomic nervous system disorders can be caused by bacteria, viruses, med.
