Articles tagged with Sleep
A study by University of Basel researchers found specific brainstem neurons that become activated during prolonged wakefulness and promote sleep drive. These neurons, including GABAergic and serotonergic neurons, increase sleep pressure and ensure prolonged wakefulness is followed by deeper and longer recovery sleep.
A large study found that very disturbed or long sleep (9+ hours) at age 50 was associated with a 9-month reduction in workforce participation. Reporting no sleep disturbances was linked to a 13-year 5-month working life expectancy, while severe sleep disturbances were associated with a 12-year 10-month expectancy.
This cross-sectional study found that melatonin use was associated with a small reduction in REM sleep percentage, but not with differences in total sleep time or other sleep stages. The study suggests that further research is needed to clarify the effects of melatonin on children's sleep.
A large-scale field experiment found that small monetary incentives boosted sleep habits and improved academic performance in college students. The study, published in the Journal of Political Economy, showed a 26% increase in nights with seven or more hours of sleep and 0.075–0.089 higher grade points.
A study by Osaka Metropolitan University found that neighborhoods with stronger senses of safety tend to have longer sleep durations, while highly walkable streetscapes are associated with shortened sleep duration. Greenery and high enclosure are also linked to longer sleep and reduced insomnia symptoms.
A novel AI model can use information collected during routine sleep studies to identify patients' long-term health risks, including heart disease and cognitive decline. The findings also suggest that routine medical tests may contain substantially more physiologic information than current clinical practice extracts.
Researchers have identified a new indicator of obesity risk in children by studying circadian rhythm-related genes. The study, published in the journal Nutrients, found that certain gene variations may increase caloric intake or from specific macronutrients.
Research explores whether eyes being open or closed affects brain activity related to mind wandering and arousal. Brain activity associated with arousal has opposite effects on mind wandering depending on eye state, suggesting a context-dependent relationship.
Research suggests that time zone changes disrupt the synchronization between human biological clocks and gut microbiota, leading to digestive complaints, poorer sleep quality, and reduced energy levels. Gradually adjusting one's biological clock through light exposure and meal timing before departure can help reduce jet lag effects.
A new study from UT Health San Antonio found a link between long sleep hours and higher levels of an Alzheimer's-related protein in the blood. The research suggests that long sleep may reflect early neurodegenerative processes, but more sleep is not always better for brain health.
Researchers have developed a new version of the Daydreaming algorithm, which combines learning and cleaning to improve artificial memory systems' reliability even with biased data. The algorithm focuses on differences between pixels, allowing it to work effectively with strongly biased data, similar to real-world conditions.
A study from Binghamton University found that poor sleep quality is connected to hyperarousal in young people and neurodegenerative patterns among older women. Research analyzed brain scans from over 1,300 participants to see how brain networks connect at rest in those with poor sleep.
Research found that night owls consume more energy, carbohydrates, and fats late at night, leading to increased body fat percentage, belly fat, and higher blood sugar. This eating pattern was associated with poorer lipid profiles and less favourable indicators of glucose regulation.
A recent study by Ben-Gurion University found that secondhand smoke directly disrupts children's sleep patterns, causing significant poor sleep quality and increased fragmentation. The research used objective data and biological markers to demonstrate the toxic effects of tobacco smoke on pediatric sleep, independent of airway blockages.
A single night of sleep testing is insufficient for an accurate diagnosis of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), according to a new study published in npj Digital Medicine. The research found that analyzing sleep patterns over multiple nights can provide a more accurate picture of the condition.
Research at Columbia University Irving Medical Center found that people who got 5-6 hours of sleep a night gained an average of one pound over six weeks, with increased sedentary time. This study suggests that getting adequate sleep may help reduce the risk of weight gain and obesity-related conditions.
A pooled analysis of two randomized trials found that decreasing sleep by just 1.5 hours each night was associated with increases in body weight, waist circumference, and sedentary time in adults with elevated cardiometabolic risk. The findings highlight the importance of discussing sleep duration at health care visits.
A study analyzed daily sleep records from Fitbit devices worn by 76 undergraduates to examine longitudinal sleep patterns. The researchers found that average sleep duration increased by 8 minutes from freshman to senior year, and students with higher grades slept longer on average.
A new study from the University of Copenhagen suggests that longer sleep is linked to more stable blood sugar levels in healthy 18-year-olds, even among those with no previous health issues. The researchers tracked participants over two weeks and found a two-way relationship between sleep duration and blood sugar stability.
A recent study published in Metabolism found that our internal clock independently affects the energy we burn after eating, peaking in the morning and decreasing at night. This discovery sheds light on why late eating may contribute to weight gain or struggles with weight loss.
A Bar-Ilan University study finds that artificial light spilling into coastal waters disrupts sleep in coral reef fish, causing increased aggression and DNA damage. Chronic exposure may have lasting biological consequences.
A new poll shows nearly all Michiganders age 50 and over value keeping their brains healthy, but less than half know daily habits can reduce dementia risk. Only half practice key brain-protecting habits.
A new study from the University of Surrey investigated infant sleep cycle development using actigraphy data, revealing rhythmic patterns of inactivity in infants as young as three months old. The study found that cycles of inactivity lengthen with age, with breastfed infants showing longer cycles compared to non-breastfed infants.
A survey of over 5,700 Chinese adolescents found significant associations between screen time, body weight, and mental health with sleep quality. Rural adolescents and girls fared worse overall, highlighting the need to address these factors to improve sleep.
A recent study found that long naps may increase the risk of developing metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) in people with type 2 diabetes. MASLD is characterized by excessive fat buildup in the liver, which can lead to chronic disorders like NAFLD.
A new study suggests that moderate sitting may be beneficial for highly active adults, contradicting previous guidelines. The research found a J-shaped association between daily sitting time and health outcomes, with the lowest risk at approximately 4 hours of sitting per day.
A study of 90 Japanese esports players found 43.3% had poor subjective sleep quality, with later bedtimes and shorter sleep times common among pros. Early-morning gaming was linked to poor sleep quality, highlighting the need for sleep support tailored to competitive status.
Researchers at the University of Groningen found that a clinically approved asthma drug can restore access to social memories disrupted by sleep deprivation. In a study, mice who were sleep deprived after meeting other mice couldn't recognize them later, but the drug roflumilast allowed them to recall their social encounters.
A new study found that individuals with a 'Sleep Appreciate' profile are willing to pay more for better sleep, while those with a 'Sleep Devalue' profile require less money. The research suggests integrating economic perspectives into sleep health research may offer novel insights for designing interventions.
A new study found that pregnant women's expectations about postpartum sleep predicted their actual sleep quality after delivery, with 70% of women anticipating poor sleep. The study suggests that addressing sleep-related beliefs during pregnancy and treating postpartum anxiety may improve sleep and emotional well-being in new mothers.
A new EPI-SLEEP study will investigate the impact of personalized in-ear sleep technology on sleep disturbances and circadian health in adults with epilepsy. The study aims to generate robust evidence for a low-risk approach to improving sleep without adding medication burden.
College students who take more daily steps tend to have better sleep quality and reduced mental health issues. The study, published in Behavioral Sleep Medicine and Chronobiology International, found that excessive sedentary behavior can lead to negative mental health outcomes.
A cohort study found that smartphone acquisition at age 13 was linked to increased risk of insufficient sleep at age 14. Excessive smartphone use was also tied to higher odds of depression and obesity. Limiting screen time may protect adolescents from these outcomes.
By inducing rhythmic on-and-off activity in small portions of the brain, researchers triggered a recalibration of neural connections that normally only occurs during sleep. This approach offset the effects of sleep deprivation and revealed features of sleep key to its restorative effect, including improved tactile memory tasks.
A new University of Arizona study has found that several common sleep behaviors may be linked to signs of brain aging. Sleeping outside the recommended seven-to-nine-hour range, frequent daytime napping, and sleeplessness were distinctly associated with greater volume of white matter lesions in healthy people.
A new study reveals that adolescents who use their smartphones more before bed have more late-night smartphone usage. The research found that teenagers with greater pre-bedtime smartphone use had greater late-night use, with an average of 46 minutes of late-night use per night.
A new study found that irregular sleep patterns, including variability in timing and duration, are associated with lower receptive vocabulary and visuospatial memory scores in preschool-age children. Despite accounting for total sleep time, greater variability in sleep midpoint was linked to lower verbal performance.
A recent study found that shorter sleep duration is associated with increased perinatal anxiety and obsessive beliefs. Mothers who experience disturbed sleep tend to have higher levels of anxiety, particularly those with lower coping ability. The study suggests prioritizing mom's sleep may benefit her mental health.
A recent study in mice reveals a shared hub of memory cells that links incoming and outgoing signals, allowing the brain to reuse some cells to store many different memories. This 'switchboard' helps maintain stability while learning new information.
A new study finds that individuals with later sleep schedules report poorer mental health, higher general loneliness, and greater nocturnal loneliness. Nighttime loneliness is a key pathway connecting later sleep patterns to anxiety.
A new study found that middle-aged women who experienced poor sleep problems had lower psychological well-being nine years later. The association remained significant even after adjusting for other health and lifestyle factors, suggesting that sleep may play an outsized role in how women feel and function later in life.
A new study found that adults feeling older than their chronological age experience more insomnia symptoms, less regular sleep, and greater daytime sleep-related impairment. The mismatch between subjective age and actual age is associated with poorer self-reported physical health.
Research using EEG reveals that caffeine can reduce slow-wave activity and shift brain patterns towards wakefulness, even if sleep duration appears normal. This can lead to a vicious cycle of fatigue and poorer sleep quality, highlighting the need for personalized approaches to caffeine consumption.
A new study maps how 29 factors influence one another in young adults aged 18-40, revealing self-reinforcing loops that worsen depressive symptoms and disrupt sleep. The model highlights the complexity of these interactions and suggests a nuanced approach to breaking the cycles.
A new study from UC San Diego found that poorer sleep quality is associated with greater memory difficulties and more Alzheimer's-related brain changes in older women with a higher genetic risk. The study suggests that improving sleep could become a target for future Alzheimer's prevention strategies.
The SLEEP 2026 annual meeting will bring together leading sleep medicine professionals to discuss the latest research and advancements in sleep care. The event will feature over 1,400 research abstracts, keynote addresses, and a showcase of the latest products and technologies in sleep medicine.
This qualitative study explores the use of edible cannabis among older adults as a management strategy for pain, sleep, and mental health concerns. The study highlights the importance of physician awareness and informed counseling for these patients.
Researchers found significant loss of neurons in the locus coeruleus, a second critical region involved in arousal and muscle tone regulation. This finding suggests an immune-mediated process and challenges the prevailing explanation for narcolepsy with cataplexy.
Research suggests that high-intensity exercise is most effective in reducing sleep disturbances among older adults with mild cognitive impairment. Light activity also shows some benefits, while moderate exercise has little impact. Tailored exercise programs could help prolong quality of life for this growing demographic.
Researchers found four mental states: recollections, connection to environment, bizarreness, and voluntary control, which appear across all three vigilance stages. A specific brain signature for the 'bizarre' dream-like state was also identified, characterized by reduced long-range connectivity between brain regions.
Dr. Indra Narang, a pediatric respirologist and sleep medicine specialist, has received the 2026 Inclusive Leadership Award for her work to broaden access and representation in sleep medicine. Her research focuses on improving diagnosis and treatment of childhood obstructive sleep apnea with an emphasis on equity-driven innovation.
A new study by researchers at IMT School for Advanced Studies Lucca analyzed over 3,700 reports of dream and waking experiences to understand what determines the content of dreams. The findings show that both individual characteristics and shared life experiences play a key role in shaping dream content.
Research explores how differences in brain development, age, and sleep affect EEG signals recorded from awake individuals. The study reveals that brain signals during wakefulness depend on prior sleep, with effects differing between children and adults.
A new study from Center for BrainHealth researchers found that declining slow-wave activity during sleep explains why anxiety rises in older adults. Participants who generated fewer slow waves woke up more anxious the next morning, while those with stronger slow-wave sleep did not show the same pattern.
A randomized clinical trial found symptom-based dosing decreases discharge time compared to scheduled opioid taper approaches among infants with opioid withdrawal. This approach, using Eat, Sleep, Console, led to faster recovery and improved outcomes.
The study examines the cumulative physical, cognitive and psychological demands of a Formula 1 season on team personnel. Researchers aim to develop targeted interventions to support performance, recovery and well-being in one of the world's most demanding team environments.
A study of 1,338 older adults found that longer, more frequent, and morning naps were associated with higher mortality rates. Excessive daytime napping was linked to increased risk of neurodegeneration, cardiovascular diseases, and greater morbidity.
A new trial found that proximal hypoglossal nerve stimulation (pHGNS) significantly reduced breathing interruptions during sleep and improved daytime sleepiness without adverse events. The therapy, an FDA-approved alternative to nasal positive airway pressure, was found to be safe and effective in patients with moderate-to-severe obstr...
A new study found that male, married Canadians with social support, healthy habits, and excellent health are more likely to experience high levels of emotional, psychological, and social well-being. Social support was a key factor associated with flourishing mental health among older adults.
A national Canadian study found that older adults who are socially connected, physically healthy, and spiritually engaged are significantly more likely to experience complete mental health. Social support emerged as one of the strongest predictors, doubling the odds of achieving complete mental health.