25092
Chronobiology in Adulthood Autism Spectrum Disorder
Sleep disorders can occur in up to the 80% of people with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). The evidence behind the contribution of sleep circadian rhythms and molecular mechanisms involving clock genes and melatonin route in ASD is very limited.
Objectives: Analyze the Circadian Rhythm sleep disorders (CRSD) in adults with ASD with Ambulatory Circadian Monitoring and their relationship with SNPs in ASMT, Per1, Npas 2, and MTNR1Agenes.
Methods: A total of 92 subjects were enrolled on a prospective study to record sleep with Ambulatory Circadian Monitoring (24 hours for a week). Circadian rhythms (CR´s) were recorded and characterized by nonparametric indexes and sleep parameters were calculated. A subtotal of 51 subjects participated in a genetic substudy of SNPs from ASMT, Per1, Npas 2, and MTNR1Agenes. Statistical analysis was performed using GraphPad Prism 5.0.
Results: ASD patients had significantly major total sleep time, sleep onset latency, num. awakenings, WASO and lower SE compared to controls with significant differences of Sleep CR´s along 24 h ACM determination. The genetic substudy found significant differences (p< 0.05) in the recessive genetic model from rs5989681 and overdominant genetic model of rs6416892 and rs885747 when compared the genotype and SOL.
Conclusions: This data suggest that ASD group sleep parameters and CR chronobiology could indicate the presence of CRSD in the ASD population. Apparently, there is a relationship between SOL and SNPs in genes Per1 and ASMT, but further genetic analysis increasing the study sample is required. Improving knowledge in this area is important for developing a model of sleep in ASD and targeting interventions.