The epigenetic mechanisms associated with sleep during childhood

Introduction: Sleep is an essential period in human life. It is highly important during childhood as an epoch development and brain maturation occur. The circadian and homeostatic systems regulate sleep. Likewise, the complex interactions of genetic, epigenetics and environmental factors affect sleep mainly by influencing sleep regulating systems. Sleep duration, quality and disturbances are all associated with these factors. Here we aimed to summarize epigenetic mechanisms and factors known to be associated with sleep during childhood. Description: We reviewed original researches assessing the associations between epigenetic mechanisms and sleep duration, quality, pattern or disorders among children and adolescents.Conclusion and Discussion: Sleep is known to affect multiple body organs and systems through epigenetic mechanisms. Different epigenetic mechanisms can regulate sleep a well. Micro RNAs are associated with sleep duration. DNA hyper methylation of specific genes i.e. Forkhead box P3is associated with obstructive sleep apnea in children. Epigenetic mechanisms also play roles in the etiology of sleep bruxism. These mechanisms are especially important in children with neurodevelopmental disabilities. Neural programming, which is critical for neurodevelopment, is regulated through epigenetic mechanisms and having a normal sleep is essentially important in this process. Sleep disturbances are highly prevalent in children suffering various neurodevelopmental disabilities such as autism and Tourette syndrome. It seems that epigenetic modifications, related to sleep regulating mechanisms, may modulate sleep characteristics in children and adolescents and affect the maturation of neural system. Further studies elucidating the exact role of epigenetic mechanismsin sleep regulation during childhood are essential.