SIDS: It stands for “sudden infant death syndrome,” and despite being the leading cause of infant mortality in Western countries, responsible for almost half of post-neonatal deaths, scientists don’t know what causes it. However, a recent study from NYU may change that, shedding light on the phenomenon that usually strikes babies under six months old while they’re asleep.
Published in the journal Neurology by a team led by Dr. Laura Gould, the study uses a registry of cases collected by the SUDC Registry and Research Collaborative.
By analyzing over 300 cases, as well as video footage, scientists discovered that brief seizures may be to blame. They found footage showing muscle convulsions lasting less than 60 seconds occurring within 30 minutes of known sudden unexplained deaths in childhood.
