Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 27, 2025

Author Spotlight: Unveiling the Connection Between Sleep Disorders and Cognitive Symptoms in Depression
04:33

Author Spotlight: Unveiling the Connection Between Sleep Disorders and Cognitive Symptoms in Depression

Published on: April 26, 2024

668

Inverse association between slow-wave sleep and low-grade inflammation in children and adolescents with major

Michael A Strumberger1, Isabelle Häberling2, Sophie Emery2

  • 1Research Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Psychiatric Hospital of the University of Basel, Wilhelm-Klein-Str. 27, 4002, Basel, Switzerland; Centre for Chronobiology, Psychiatric Hospital of the University of Basel, Wilhelm-Klein-Str. 27, 4002, Basel, Switzerland; Psychiatric Services Lucerne, Lucerne, Switzerland.

Sleep Medicine
|April 26, 2024
PubMed

Insights

Children with major depressive disorder (MDD) show links between slow-wave sleep and inflammation. Specifically, reduced slow-wave sleep in depressed youth correlates with higher inflammation markers.

Area of Science:

  • Neuroscience
  • Psychiatry
  • Sleep Medicine

Background:

  • Major depressive disorder (MDD) in children and adolescents is associated with various physiological changes.
  • Low-grade inflammation is increasingly recognized as a potential factor in the pathophysiology of MDD.
  • Sleep disturbances are common in youth with MDD, but their relationship with inflammation requires further investigation.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To examine the association between objective and self-reported sleep variables and low-grade inflammation in children and adolescents with moderate to severe MDD.
  • To compare these associations between individuals with MDD and healthy controls (HC).

Main Methods:

  • A cross-sectional study involving 29 children/adolescents with MDD and 29 HC.
  • One-week actigraphy for objective sleep assessment.
  • One-night sleep electroencephalography (EEG) and self-reported sleep questionnaires.
  • Plasma high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP) as a marker for low-grade inflammation.

Main Results:

  • No significant difference in hsCRP levels between MDD and HC groups.
  • In MDD participants, hsCRP correlated with increased subjective insomnia and altered sleep architecture (more N2 sleep, less slow-wave sleep).
  • After adjustments, only the inverse association between hsCRP and slow-wave sleep remained significant, with group status moderating this relationship.

Conclusions:

  • Alterations in slow-wave sleep architecture may play a role in modulating low-grade inflammatory processes in pediatric MDD.
  • Slow-wave sleep disruption is a potential mechanism linking MDD and inflammation in youth.
Abstract

Keywords:
AdolescenceC-reactive proteinDepressionInflammationSleep disturbanceSlow-wave sleep

More Related Videos

A Chronic Sleep Fragmentation Model using Vibrating Orbital Rotor to Induce Cognitive Deficit and Anxiety-Like Behavior in Young Wild-Type Mice06:23

A Chronic Sleep Fragmentation Model using Vibrating Orbital Rotor to Induce Cognitive Deficit and Anxiety-Like Behavior in Young Wild-Type Mice

Published on: September 22, 2020

5.4K
Chronic Sleep Deprivation in Mouse Pups by Means of Gentle Handling03:46

Chronic Sleep Deprivation in Mouse Pups by Means of Gentle Handling

Published on: October 11, 2018

10.1K

Related Concept Videos

Insufficient Sleep and Sleep Deprivation01:13

Insufficient Sleep and Sleep Deprivation

Insufficient sleep refers to not getting the recommended amount of sleep for optimal functioning, even if it's just slightly less than needed. Sleep insufficiency may occur due to lifestyle choices, such as staying up late for social events or work, resulting in routinely getting less sleep than required. For example, consistently sleeping 6 hours when the body needs 7-9 hours can lead to cumulative effects on health and well-being.
Sleep deprivation is a more severe form of sleep loss...
140
Stress and Mental Health01:30

Stress and Mental Health

Chronic stress profoundly affects mental health, significantly influencing mood, behavior, and overall quality of life. Research closely links chronic stress with mental health conditions such as depression, anxiety, and substance use disorders. Ongoing exposure to stress can lead to physiological and psychological changes, initiating a cycle of emotional distress and maladaptive coping mechanisms.
Individuals with depression often experience challenges in both their personal and professional...
131
Sleep-Wake Cycles01:24

Sleep-Wake Cycles

Sleep is an essential physiological process vital to maintaining overall well-being. The reticular activating system (RAS), a network of neurons in the brainstem, regulates wakefulness and sleep. While it may seem passive, sleep consists of distinct cycles, each with its unique characteristics and functions. Two key sleep phases are non-rapid eye movement (NREM) and  rapid eye movement (REM).
NREM Sleep
NREM sleep comprises four progressive stages that seamlessly merge:
1.3K
Correlations02:20

Correlations

Correlation means that there is a relationship between two or more variables (such as ice cream consumption and crime), but this relationship does not necessarily imply cause and effect. When two variables are correlated, it simply means that as one variable changes, so does the other. We can measure correlation by calculating a statistic known as a correlation coefficient. A correlation coefficient is a number from -1 to +1 that indicates the strength and direction of the relationship between...
32.8K
Depression: Overview01:18

Depression: Overview

Depression is a prevalent mental illness marked by persistent sadness and lack of interest in previously enjoyable activities. It can take several forms, including major depression, persistent depressive disorder, and bipolar I and II disorders. Symptoms range from emotional changes like chronic worry to physical changes like sleep disturbances and suicidal thoughts. From a neurobiological perspective, depression is believed to be triggered by abnormalities in the brain's prefrontal cortex,...
242