New Research Shows How Poor Sleep Could Be Harming Kids’ Brain Development—Is Your Child At Risk? (Image Credits: iStock)
For children, sleep is essential for brain growth and cognitive health, but there are times when they throw tantrums and don't follow a proper sleep pattern which makes them cranky and irritated when they wake up. However, following a proper sleep schedule is essential for their overall health as sleep disruptions may lead to some health risks linked with brain development. A study in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences emphasizes the need for this, warning of the alarming consequences that sleep disruptions can have on young, developing brains. The findings show the importance of encouraging children to adopt good sleep habits, as sleep disruptions may lead to lasting impacts on mental and physical health.
Professor Graham Diering from the University of North Carolina led the research, focusing on how sleep affects brain development in children versus adults. While sleep in adults mainly helps with maintenance and repair, it serves a different function in children, where it plays a central role in forming and strengthening neural connections essential for learning and memory. The researchers observed this by studying sleep patterns in young and adult mice, discovering that the brains of young mice were far more affected by sleep deprivation than those of adults.
One key finding was that young brains are less able to compensate for lost sleep. Unlike adults, who can "catch up" after poor-quality sleep, children may experience long-term cognitive impacts when sleep is disrupted. This suggests that following a consistent, high-quality sleep routine in childhood is important to promote optimal brain development. Following good habits—like a regular bedtime and uninterrupted sleep—is essential for the strengthening of synaptic connections, which are crucial for cognitive functioning and memory.
Another significant and concerning aspect of the study is its connection to neurodevelopmental disorders, specifically autism spectrum disorder (ASD). The researchers found that sleep loss in children impacted certain proteins in the brain, which are not only crucial for cognitive functions like learning and memory but are also linked to genetic risk factors for ASD. This suggests that children with a genetic predisposition to autism may experience an increased risk of developing the disorder if they experience poor sleep quality or disruptions.
Study author Graham Diering emphasized, “Sleep is something very important for your whole life, but it’s especially critical for children and babies. There is a growing understanding that lost sleep during childhood can have irreversible impacts on development. Once brain development is complete, we don’t get to go back and do it again.”
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