Causes And Risk Factors Of Non-24-Hour Sleep-Wake Disorder

Autism Spectrum Disorder

Autism spectrum disorder is a range of conditions characterized by difficulties with speech, social skills, nonverbal communication, and repetitive behaviors. Autism spectrum disorder is caused by brain structure and function abnormalities that may also be influenced by genetic mutations. It is a disorder that affects the normal development of an individual's brain. When sleep and circadian centers in the brain are not properly developed because of autism spectrum disorder, non-24-hour sleep-wake disorder can occur. Not only are the circadian clocks of individuals affected by autism spectrum disorder not fully developed, but they may also have problems with melatonin production. Individuals who have non-24-hour sleep-wake disorder that is not affected by autism spectrum disorder or blindness may have development deficiencies that only affect the area of the brain that manages their sleep-wake cycle and circadian rhythms. In autism spectrum disorder patients, developmental deficiencies affect multiple parts of the brain, which can include the part where the circadian clock and sleep-wake cycle are managed.

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Brain Damage

Some individuals who have sustained considerable trauma to the head or brain damage may develop non-24-hour sleep-wake disorder. Previous to experiencing the trauma or incurring damage, the individual was known to have a healthy and functioning sleep-wake cycle center. Not only is physical trauma to the brain a possible cause, but any tumors that form in or near the hypothalamus or pineal gland can cause non-24-hour sleep-wake disorder to develop. In some cases of such malignant or benign tumors, treatment with radiation therapy has the potential to cause damage to the sleep-wake center of the patient's brain. Another trauma that can lead to non-24-hour sleep-wake disorder is when an individual suffers damage to the brain due to an aneurysm near the suprachiasmatic nucleus or tiny region of the brain in the hypothalamus responsible for an individual's circadian rhythm. Secondary non-24-hour sleep-wake disorder can be caused by any injury, damage, or physical abnormalities that lead to a patient's total blindness.

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