For decades, the cause of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) has eluded experts, with a potential association with infant sleep practices and lifestyle choices.

A new study could finally have a definitive answer. The study, conducted at The Children's Hospital Westmead, has found an outlier characteristic of SIDS victims - they have significantly lower levels of butyrylcholinesterase (BChE), an enzyme required for the brain’s arousal pathway.

Researchers analyzed dried blood samples of 722 babies, with 67 of them having died from SIDS. This breakthrough won’t immediately lead to fewer deaths, but it provides a significant breakthrough that could lead to more research and ultimately, a possible solution.

Grieving families are also finding peace in this progress, knowing that the tragedy of SIDS is not their fault. This discovery changes the narrative around SIDS and promises a very hopeful journey ahead for scientists and the families they serve.

Read more (via Scary Mommy)