New Delhi: Babies who sleep less or struggle to fall asleep may be showing some of the earliest signs of autism, new research suggests.
Australian researchers have uncovered a link between infant sleep patterns and the later development of autistic traits. According to the study, babies who sleep less or experience poorer sleep quality are significantly more likely to develop autistic characteristics as they grow older. Some may even go on to be diagnosed with autism.
According to the Autism Research Institute, autism is a neurodevelopmental condition that primarily involves differences in social communication and patterns of restricted, repetitive interests and behaviours.
Autism affects 3.2 percent of Australian children, which is similar to the rates seen in the United States and England. In 2016, the disorder was the largest contributor to disability among Australian children under five.
Published in the journal Archives of Disease in Childhood, the study followed over 1,000 mother–infant pairs, tracking sleep patterns at six and 12 months of age.
Researchers then assessed the children's autism characteristics at ages two and four, based on reports from parents. By the time the children reached 12 years old, 64 of them had been diagnosed with autism.
The findings were clear. Infants with poor sleep were consistently more likely to display autistic traits and receive a later autism diagnosis. At six months old, each additional hour of night sleep was associated with a 4.5 percent reduction in autistic traits at ages two and four, as well as a 22 percent lower chance of an autism diagnosis by age 12.
At 12 months, babies who took longer to fall asleep showed higher risk. Each five-minute increase in sleep latency, or the time it takes for a person to fall asleep after getting into bed, was linked to a 1.5 percent increase in autism characteristics and a 7.7 percent higher chance of an autism diagnosis.
“Our findings suggest that infant sleep behaviours, especially nocturnal patterns, may serve as early indicators of autism, enabling early detection and intervention opportunities, including sleep-focused support,” the authors noted.
While diagnosis can be reliably made by 24 months, many Australian children receive their diagnosis later, at a median age of 45 months. This delay may cause children to miss the optimal window for early intervention programs.
To address this, the authors indicated there is increasing interest in multi-method longitudinal screening during the prodromal period, incorporating multiple measures rather than relying on single assessments at isolated time points.
The research suggests that parent-reported sleep metrics, such as night sleep duration and sleep onset latency, could be useful additions to these approaches.
The study also revealed that 42 percent of children later diagnosed with autism had used melatonin within the past month. This is a common remedy for sleep difficulties, suggesting a possible attempt by parents to manage early sleep challenges.
Autism varies widely, requiring different levels of support, and is linked to greater health challenges and lower life expectancy. Early detection and evidence-based interventions are crucial for better outcomes, underscoring the importance of enhancing these efforts, so children receive timely access to support.
