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Decreased plasma catecholamine and renin activity in children with difficulty waking up in the morning
1Department of Pediatrics, Medical College of Oita, Japan.
Insights
Children experiencing morning grogginess may have lower levels of plasma catecholamines (adrenaline and noradrenalin) and plasma renin activity. These findings suggest a potential link between these substances and difficulty waking up in childhood.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric endocrinology
- Neuroscience
- Sleep medicine
Background:
- Difficulty waking up in the morning is a common complaint in childhood.
- The physiological mechanisms underlying this issue are not fully understood.
- Catecholamines and the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system play roles in arousal and stress response.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate plasma catecholamine concentrations and plasma renin activity in children with morning waking difficulties.
- To compare these levels with age-matched healthy controls.
Main Methods:
- Measured plasma catecholamine (adrenaline, noradrenalin) levels in 26 children (10-15 years) with morning waking difficulties.
- Assessed plasma renin activity (PRA) in these children and controls, including postural changes for PRA measurement.
- Compared findings with age-matched control group.
Main Results:
- Children with difficulty waking up showed significantly lower plasma catecholamine concentrations compared to controls.
- Plasma renin activity was also significantly lower in this group.
- PRA levels were measured before and after a 15-minute standing period.
Conclusions:
- Low plasma catecholamine levels may be associated with morning waking difficulties in children.
- Reduced plasma renin activity could also contribute to this symptom.
- Further research is warranted to explore the causal relationship and potential interventions.
Abstract:
Plasma catecholamine concentration (CAT: adrenalin and noradrenalin) and plasma renin activity (PRA) were measured in 26 children, aged 10 to 15 years, who had difficulty waking up in the morning. CAT, which was examined only in the supine position in control children, and PRA, which was examined before and after standing for 15 min, were significantly lower than in age-matched control children. These results suggest that low CAT and PRA may contribute to difficulty waking up in the morning in childhood.