Outcome of Sleep Rehabilitation in Autistic Children with Sleep Disorders Is Linked to Melatonin Receptor Genes SNPs

A significant proportion of children with Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) experience sleep issues, such as insomnia and other disorders, as assessed by the Sleep Disturbance Scale for Children. Our study investigated the link between six single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in the melatonin receptor genes MT1 and MT2 and ASD susceptibility, clinical severity and associated sleep problems. A total of 139 ASD children, 82 siblings, and 53 unrelated healthy controls, all of Sardinian ancestry, were studied; among them, 38 children with co-occurring sleep issues were assessed for the outcomes of a rehabilitative program, including behavioral therapy and sleep hygiene. The MT2 rs10830963 G allele is more prevalent in ASD children and their siblings compared to the healthy controls, while rs2119882 (MT1) and rs1562444 (MT2) are associated with DIMS, DA, and SHY. ASD Children carrying the rs2119882 T allele have higher scores for DIMS and DA compared to C allele carriers, and those carrying rs1562444 A allele have higher scores for SHY than G allele carriers. After rehabilitative treatment, homozygous TT carriers of rs2119882 showed less improvement in DIMS symptoms compared to CT and CC carriers. A similar result was observed for AA carriers of SNP rs1562444 about SHY. We may suggest that the MT1 and MT2 variants may serve as useful predictive genetic markers for the severity of sleep disorders in children with ASD, potentially informing the design of more targeted rehabilitative treatments.