Why do autistic people have such trouble sleeping?
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It is reported that between 50-80% of autistic children experience sleep disturbances compared to ~30% of neurotypical children. Whilst similar statistics are unavailable for autistic adults at this time, recent studies do suggest (and I can attest) that autistic adults also experience more insomnia due to taking longer to fall asleep, experiencing more fragmented sleep, and waking up more often in the middle of the night. Notably, studies also show that sleep disturbances in autistic adults correspond to a lower reported quality of life, including poorer mental and physical health.
One prominent theory as to why autistics experience more sleep difficulty is that our internal clocks may not function with the same 24-hour rhythm. This is likely a result of different hormone regulation mechanisms, genetics, and processing of environmental stimuli. For example, data show that autistic children have lower levels of melatonin compared to neurotypical children. Moreover, there are data showing differences in genes that regulate circadian rhythms in autistics compared to the general population. These findings suggest that our circadian rhythms may be disrupted, making it difficult to sleep.
These issues, and more, have lead me to a diet that is 85% saturated animal fats, 15% animal-based protein, and 5% carbs (from nuts). This, combined with a rigid eating schedule featuring intermittent fasting, means that my body is producing the maximum amount of sleep hormones (large, fluffy LDL cholesterol is the key) and starving my hyper-aroused brain of the energy it needs to keep me awake at the end of my day.
Why do autistic people have such trouble sleeping?
Why do autistic people have such trouble sleeping?
Why do autistic people have such trouble sleeping?
It is reported that between 50-80% of autistic children experience sleep disturbances compared to ~30% of neurotypical children. Whilst similar statistics are unavailable for autistic adults at this time, recent studies do suggest (and I can attest) that autistic adults also experience more insomnia due to taking longer to fall asleep, experiencing more fragmented sleep, and waking up more often in the middle of the night. Notably, studies also show that sleep disturbances in autistic adults correspond to a lower reported quality of life, including poorer mental and physical health.
One prominent theory as to why autistics experience more sleep difficulty is that our internal clocks may not function with the same 24-hour rhythm. This is likely a result of different hormone regulation mechanisms, genetics, and processing of environmental stimuli. For example, data show that autistic children have lower levels of melatonin compared to neurotypical children. Moreover, there are data showing differences in genes that regulate circadian rhythms in autistics compared to the general population. These findings suggest that our circadian rhythms may be disrupted, making it difficult to sleep.
These issues, and more, have lead me to a diet that is 85% saturated animal fats, 15% animal-based protein, and 5% carbs (from nuts). This, combined with a rigid eating schedule featuring intermittent fasting, means that my body is producing the maximum amount of sleep hormones (large, fluffy LDL cholesterol is the key) and starving my hyper-aroused brain of the energy it needs to keep me awake at the end of my day.
The research:
A survey of sleep problems in autism, Asperger’s disorder and typically developing children, J Intellect Disabil Res, Polimeni, Richdale, & Francis, 2005
Sleep Behaviors and Sleep Quality in Children with Autism Spectrum Disorders, Sleep, Souders et al., 2009
Sleep in Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder, Curr Psychiatry Rep, Souders et al., 2017
Sleep in adults with Autism Spectrum Disorder: a systematic review and meta-analysis of subjective and objective studies, Sleep Med, Morgan et al., 2020
Sleep problems in autism spectrum disorders: Prevalence, nature, & possible biopsychosocial aetiologies, Sleep Med Rev, Richdale & Schreck, 2009
Sleep determines quality of life in autistic adults: A longitudinal study. Autism Research, Deserno et al., 2019
The impact of sleep quality on quality of life for autistic adults, Res Autism Spectr Disord, McLean, Eack, & Bishop, 2021
Are circadian rhythms new pathways to understand Autism Spectrum Disorder?, J Physiol Paris, Geoffray et al., 2016
Biological Timing and Neurodevelopmental Disorders: A Role for Circadian Dysfunction in Autism Spectrum Disorders, Front Neurosci, Lorsung, Karthikeyan, & Cao, 2021
Evidence of pineal endocrine hypofunction in autistic children, Neuro Endocrinol Lett, Kulman et al., 2000
The Possible Interplay of Synaptic and Clock Genes in Autism Spectrum Disorders, Cold Spring Harb Symp Quant Biol., Bourgeron, 2007
Sleep problems in children with autism spectrum disorder: examining the contributions of sensory over-responsivity and anxiety, Sleep Med, Mazurek & Petroski, 2015
Comparing cortisol, stress, and sensory sensitivity in children with autism, Autism Res, Corbett et al., 2009