Sleep Disruption During Early Life as it Relates to the Development of Autism Spectrum Disorder
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.58445/rars.799Keywords:
Early-Life Sleep Disruption,, Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), Synaptic Plasticity, Neurodevelopmental Disorders, SynapsesAbstract
Sleep is a state of minimal consciousness, during which brain activity is altered. Though the role of sleep during development is not definitively established, sleep during early life is essential for proper cognitive development. Losing sleep early in life is associated with neurodevelopmental disorders, such as Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), where 80% of patients present with sleep disruptions, such as insomnia or multiple night awakenings. ASD is a disorder that encompasses numerous disorders marked by repetitive behaviors and social deficits. The purpose of this review is to discuss sleep across the lifespan and discuss the link between early-life sleep disruption and ASD. Additionally, this review summarizes the role of synaptic plasticity within the brain during sleep. Synaptic plasticity, put simply, is the brain’s ability to mold itself in response to new information. Synaptic plasticity is different in the brain of persons with ASD and neurotypical persons. As synapses are a major target of sleep, the last section and conclusions discuss the potential therapeutic opportunities that targeting sleep, and indirectly synapses, could present for ASD patients.
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