Common cause in sudden death syndromes

"If someone's airway is blocked with a blanket, for example, they are unable to expel CO₂, which causes their CO₂ blood levels to rise. Normally, this triggers a series of reactions that cause the individual to wake up and either re-position themselves so that they can breathe again, or cry out for help, like in the case of a baby," says author Gordon Buchanan, an associate professor of neurology at the University of Iowa. "However, in instances of SIDS and SUDEP, evidence is beginning to suggest that elevated CO₂ doesn't trigger this wake-up response like it should, which can ultimately result in death."

Why a person would fail to wake up from increased CO₂ is not fully understood, but a potential explanation is that a malfunctioning serotonin receptor in the midbrain may be responsible.

"Serotonin neurons in the medulla are involved in regulation of breathing, and we think the ones in the midbrain are involved in regulating a person's ability to wake up," says Buchanan. "In instances of SIDS and SUDEP, autopsies frequently reveal that there are abnormalities in the individual's serotonin system in the brain.

"It is very possible that there is a direct path by which CO₂ is sensed by serotonin receptors in the midbrain, and when there is too much CO₂ present, the brain reacts by waking up the individual," he says. "The existence of this direct pathway is important because it could drive future treatments."

However, applying this information to create preventative therapies for these syndromes is still in the works. In addition to validating that SIDS and SUDEP are caused by an inability to wake up because of a defective CO₂ system, a safe and reliable way to test if a person has dysfunctional serotonin receptors needs to be developed as well. Currently, such determinations are possible only through autopsies.

In the meantime, parents or caregivers for infants or people with epilepsy should employ the same preventative measures that have been recommended, and largely successful, for decades. "For infants six months and younger, which is the population most susceptible to SIDS, parents should put babies on their backs to sleep. At that age, they can't really roll, so they should stay put through the night," Buchanan says. Further, not putting plush toys or blankets in the crib and dressing the baby in tight-fitting clothing are other guidelines to follow.

"As for people with epilepsy who may be prone to SUDEP, which tends to be people who have nighttime seizures, they can also try to sleep on their backs, although it's less likely that they'll stay like that throughout the night since they can roll," says Buchanan. "And in both cases, using a baby monitor to keep an eye on the individual can be helpful."