Vanderbilt sleep researchers are reporting a relationship between good sleep and how much melatonin the body produces - the first in a series of research studies intended to help children with autism spectrum disorders sleep through the night.

Professor Beth Malow presented results of the study, "Nocturnal urine 6-sulfatoxymelatonin levels are related to sleep parameters in children with autism," Nov. 3 at the annual meeting of the Society for Neuroscience in San Diego, Calif.

"This suggests that children with ASD who have decreased melatonin levels have decreased levels of deep sleep," Malow said.

Source: Vanderbilt News Service