Sleep quality and temperament in association with autism spectrum disorder among infants in Japan

• Published in: Communications medicine 2023-06, Vol.3 (1), p.82-8, Article 82
• Main Authors: Kikuchi, Kimiyo, Michikawa, Takehiro, Morokuma, Seiichi, Hamada, Norio, Suetsugu, Yoshiko, Ikeda, Subaru, Nakahara, Kazushige, Kato, Kiyoko, Ochiai, Masayuki, Shibata, Eiji, Tsuji, Mayumi, Shimono, Masayuki, Kawamoto, Toshihiro, Ohga, Shouichi, Kusuhara, Koichi
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: 692/308/3187; 692/617/375/366/1373; Autism; Babies; Breastfeeding & lactation; Caregivers; Cohort analysis; Congenital diseases; Data collection; Family income; Gestational age; Medicine; Medicine & Public Health; Mental disorders; Miscarriage; Multiple births; Regression analysis; Sleep; Stillbirth
• ISSN: 2730-664X; 2730-664X
• DOI: 10.1038/s43856-023-00314-9

Background Sleep problems and irritable temperaments are common among infants with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). The prospective association between such sleep problems and irritable temperaments and ASDs needs to be determined for elucidating the mechanism and exploring the future intervention study. Thus, in this study, we investigated whether sleep quality and temperament in 1-month-old infants are associated with the onset of ASD in 3-year-old children. We also assessed its sex-stratified associations. Methods We conducted a longitudinal study using data from 69,751 mothers and infants from a large-cohort study, the Japan Environment and Children’s Study. We examined the prospective association between infant sleep quality and temperament at 1 month of age and ASD diagnosis by 3 years of age. Results Here we show infants with longer daytime sleep have a higher risk of later ASD than those with shorter daytime sleep (risk ratio [RR]: 1.33, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.01–1.75). Infants who experienced intense crying have a higher risk of ASD than those who did not (RR: 1.31, 95% CI: 1.00–1.72). There is a difference in sex in the association between a bad mood and later ASD. In particular, female infants experiencing bad moods have a higher risk of ASD than others (RR: 3.59, 95% CI: 1.91–6.75). Conclusions The study findings provide important information for future intervention to reduce the risk of future ASD. Plain Language Summary Sleep problems and irritable temperaments are common among infants with autism. This study looked at the sleep and temperament of nearly 70,000 1-month-old infants in Japan and whether they were subsequently diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder during the first three years of life. Children who had slept for longer during the day and were more prone to frequent, prolonged, or intense crying were more likely to have been diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder by age 3. The findings of this study might be useful for those monitoring the development of autism spectrum disorder or developing support for those with autism spectrum disorders. Kikuchi, Michikawa et al. investigate whether sleep quality and temperament in 1-month-old infants is associated with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) in 3-year-old children in Japan. Infants who had longer daytime sleeps and more intense crying had a higher risk of ASD at age 3.