Sleep deprivation in adults can lead to serious long-term health problems, including weakened immune systems, weight gain, depression, and a higher risk of dementia. Understanding the reasons behind these consequences is crucial.
From birth, sleep is essential for brain development. Babies’ brains form synapses, which are critical for learning, attention, and memory. Sleep helps these connections grow, shaping brain function for life. Disrupting this process, through constant waking or separation anxiety, can have lasting effects on behavior and brain health.
A recent study led by Sean Gay, a graduate student under Dr. Graham Diering at the UNC School of Medicine, sheds light on how sleep loss during early life affects brain development. The research also explores the increased risk of developing autism spectrum disorder (ASD). The findings were published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.
Sleep Issues and Autism
Sleep disturbances can indicate problems with brain growth and neurodevelopmental disorders like ASD and ADHD. Over 80% of individuals with ASD experience sleep issues, but it remains unclear whether sleep disruption causes ASD or is a consequence of it.
Diering has studied how sleep strengthens synapses—a process called synaptic plasticity—and how sleep deprivation can lead to cognitive disorders. Understanding the link between sleep and ASD may enable earlier diagnoses and new treatment strategies.
In 2022, the Diering lab investigated whether early sleep disruption interacts with genetic risk for ASD, causing lasting changes in behavior. Using mouse models, they found that sleep disruption during a critical period (around the third week of life, similar to ages 1-2 in humans) led to long-term social behavior deficits in male mice predisposed to ASD.
Exploring Sleep Rebound
The researchers further examined how both adult and developing mice compensate for sleep loss. They used specialized housing with sensors to track movements and breathing, monitoring sleep states. Adult mice showed a “sleep rebound,” where they increased sleep during active hours to make up for lost sleep.
In contrast, younger mice did not exhibit this rebound effect, confirming that they are more vulnerable to sleep deprivation. Sleep loss significantly impaired young mice’s performance in memory tasks, while adults were more resilient.
The lab then focused on how sleep affects neuronal synapses, which facilitate communication between neurons and are vital for memory formation. They conducted molecular analyses to understand how sleep deprivation impacts these synapses. The results indicated that sleep loss in young mice greatly hindered synapse formation, a critical aspect of brain development.
“This study provides one of the most comprehensive datasets on the molecular effects of sleep loss throughout life,” said Diering.
Future Treatment Options for Autism
The lab aims to develop new sleep-based treatments for children with ASD. Instead of acting as sedatives, these potential drugs would target synapses to restore sleep function, rather than merely changing sleep behavior.
“Development cannot be reversed,” Diering emphasized. “Sleep is crucial throughout life, especially during developmental stages. Our findings stress the need to understand sleep issues in ASD, which could lead to effective therapies for ASD and related developmental conditions.”
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