LA Times reported in this article about a study conducted by Dr. Cornelius Gross, author and head of the European Molecular Biology Laboratory in Monterotondo, Italy, which shows that there may be a link between serotonin and sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS). Scientists made a statement to the journal, Science, that mice who were genetically altered to produce excess serotonin died young with similar symptoms to human infants who have passed away from SIDS. The initial study was conducted to determine how serotonin affects aggression and anxiety, and as Dr. Gross stated about the results, “This was a chance discovery.”
Dr. Gross also hopes that his study will lead other researchers to "to devise diagnostic tests to try to identify those kids most likely to . . . die of SIDS." His findings have already been supported by Dr. Hannah Kinney who in 2006 had conducted a study regarding abnormal serotonin production in infants who died of SIDS.
In addition, Dr. Gene Nattie, a colleague of Kinney, and professor of physiology at Dartmouth Medical School remarked "The main impact is if you produce a very specific deficit in the serotonin system, you get a disastrous result. That's why the paper is important. It's certainly a big step forward."
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