In this week’s issue of the journal Science, Italian researchers presented the results of a recently wrapped up study. The mice that were used within the experiments were genetically altered in order to overproduce the brain chemical called serotonin.

As it turned out, the mice died after having developed symptoms which were somewhat similar to those found with the sudden infant death syndrome; the majority of the mice died due to failure to regulate their body temperature and heart rate. One of the conclusions of the study therefore says SIDS may be caused by improper serotonin regulation.

According to Dr. Cornelius Gross, study author and head of the project with the European Molecular Biology Laboratory in Monterotondo, Italy, the newly-found information could eventually "devise diagnostic tests to try to identify those kids most likely to . . . die of SIDS."

SIDS is a terrible condition; it affects babies with ages ranging from one month to one year, who appear to be perfectly healthy; they simply die with no warning whatsoever. In the US there are about 2,700 such deaths recorded annually.

The study’s initial purpose was to find out how serotonin influences aggression and anxiety; however, once the mice started dying, the possibility of a SIDS-related condition was brought up in discussion by one of the researchers. As Dr. Cornelius Gross said, it was a "chance discovery." Serotonin does indeed affect one’s mood; it also has an important role in regulating bodily functions like temperature and heart rate.

Others may take on the challenge to eliminate this condition; once it is fully understood, solutions will definitely be found. Using the Italian researchers’ results as parting point, perhaps further valuable facts will soon be discovered.