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Melatonin and circadian rhythms in autism: Case report
Gabriela Melloni Zuculo1, Bruno S B Gonçalves2, Clay Brittes3
1a Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP) , Marília , Brazil.
Chronobiology International
|April 21, 2017
Summary
Melatonin treatment improved sleep and behavior in an individual with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) by correcting a non-24-hour circadian rhythm. Actigraphy confirmed the shift to a regular 24-hour sleep-wake cycle, highlighting melatonin
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Chronobiology
- Developmental Pediatrics
Background:
- Sleep disorders are common in autism spectrum disorder (ASD), potentially worsening behavioral issues and autistic symptoms.
- Melatonin has shown efficacy in treating sleep disturbances in ASD with minimal side effects.
Observation:
- A case study focused on an ASD individual exhibiting a non-24-hour circadian activity/rest rhythm.
- Actigraphy data revealed a disrupted sleep-wake cycle prior to melatonin administration.
Findings:
- Melatonin administration significantly increased the regularity of the circadian activity rhythm by approximately 4.7 times.
- The subject's rest period normalized to 00:00–06:00, indicating a shift to a 24-hour rhythm.
- Improvements in sleep quality and behavior were observed post-melatonin treatment.
Implications:
- Melatonin therapy shows promise for synchronizing endogenous rhythms and enhancing sleep quality in ASD individuals.
- Actigraphy is a valuable tool for assessing and characterizing activity/rest rhythm parameters in ASD.
- This case supports melatonin as a potential treatment to improve sleep and behavior in ASD with circadian rhythm disruptions.
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