Research on sleep and its role in health. Covers restorative sleep, nighttime light exposure, sleeplessness, and the links between sleep and disease.
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 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 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.
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.
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.
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 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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
A meta-analysis of millions of community-dwelling adults found that regular physical activity, less sedentary time, and appropriate nightly sleep (7-8 hours) were associated with a lower subsequent risk of dementia. Conversely, too little or too much sleep was linked to an increased risk, highlighting the importance of optimal sleep du...
Research from Flinders University finds that people with sleep apnea who experience dramatic night-to-night breathing problems are 30% more likely to have a heart attack or stroke. The studies suggest that repeated changes in oxygen levels and sleep disruption can quietly stress the heart and blood vessels over time.
A study of 3,959 healthy Japanese workers found that longer working hours, including unpaid care and domestic work, are associated with a higher risk of nonrestorative sleep and poor mental health in women. The researchers call for policy changes to address time poverty and promote gender equality.
Scientists have developed a method to track increased movement of brain fluids during sleep without invasive procedures. This allows for the study of how sleep enhances brain cleaning processes.
A new study from the University of Oulu suggests that large swings in bedtime could double the risk of serious cardiac events. Inconsistent bedtimes were strongly associated with a higher risk of major cardiovascular events, especially among those who get less than eight hours of sleep.
A study found that late sleep schedules are linked to unhealthy eating habits, including increased calorie intake and snacking, as well as reduced physical activity, particularly during school hours. The researchers suggest that parents should pay attention to their children's sleep timing during adolescence.
The American Academy of Sleep Medicine has announced the 2026 award recipients for their exceptional contributions to sleep medicine. The award winners are Dr. Susan Redline, Danny Eckert, Dr. Douglas Kirsch, Dr. Beth Malow, and Dr. Robert Stansbury, recognized for their research, education, advocacy, and clinical care.
Research suggests living in areas with high levels of transportation noise is associated with a significantly higher risk of major adverse cardiac events. Loud road, aviation, and rail noises were linked to increased risks of heart attack, stroke, or coronary revascularization. Different types of noise may come with unique health risks...
Researchers found that immersive dreaming, even with wake-like brain activity, leads to a greater feeling of deep sleep. Vivid dreams are associated with subjective deeper sleep, while abstract thoughts are related to more shallow feelings.
The study identified six sleep health dimensions in young adolescents: irregularity, timing, duration, social jetlag, weekend oversleep, and continuity. Greater irregularity was associated with higher concurrent transdiagnostic mental health symptoms, while shorter duration was linked to increased symptoms at follow-up.
A study found that sleep apps can have negative effects on people with insomnia symptoms, causing more worries and stress. While the apps helped some users, younger adults reported stronger effects, while older individuals responded less.
Adolescents who replaced half an hour of sedentary behaviors with moderate-to-vigorous physical activity or sleep showed a 15% lower insulin resistance. This study highlights the importance of being active early in life for long-term health, aligning with the American Heart Association's Life's Essential 8 metrics.
A study published in JAMA Network Open found that analyzing fine-scale patterns in brain waves during sleep can provide insights into brain health. The research suggests that sudden large spikes on EEG, known as kurtosis, are associated with a lower risk of dementia.
Researchers found that adults with ADHD exhibit more sleep-like brain activity, leading to more lapses in attention. This increased activity may be a key brain mechanism underlying attention problems in ADHD. Further study is needed to explore potential strategies to mitigate this activity.
A study by researchers at the University of Basel and University of Bern found that spring fatigue is not a real biological phenomenon, but rather a culturally influenced concept. Participants in an online survey reported feeling more exhausted in spring, but the data showed no correlation with seasonal changes.
The research team created a fiber memristor-based physical reservoir computing system that enables seamless, continuous, and unobtrusive sleep monitoring. The system achieved 94.8% accuracy in snore event detection, 95.4% in sleep stage classification, and 93.5% in multi-modal fusion tasks.
A team from Hackensack Meridian Health found that during the deepest sleep, breathing patterns become independent of brain activity, unlike lighter sleep or wakefulness. This study provides new insights into how internal brain states interact with peripheral rhythms like respiration.
A large observational study found that sleeping 7 hours and 18 minutes per night may help prevent insulin resistance and type 2 diabetes. However, weekend catch-up sleep can increase the risk of impaired glucose metabolism in those who sleep beyond this threshold every night.
A study found insufficient sleep among US adolescents, with trends suggesting environmental and structural factors are driving the issue, rather than specific behaviors. The findings highlight the need for population-level interventions to address widespread sleep loss.
A systematic review and meta-analysis found a small correlation between daily screen use and later sleep onset in youth. However, short-term fluctuations in screen time had limited effects on sleep duration, efficiency, or quality.
Chronic sleep disruption persistently impairs social memory by differentially encoding oxytocin release in hippocampal CA2 during novelty encoding and prelimbic cortex during retrieval of familiar individuals. Restoration of PVN-OXT neurons enhances OXT release and produces sustained behavioral recovery.
A new multicenter study by Kumamoto University and National Cerebral and Cardiovascular Center found that working-age adults with shorter sleep durations are more likely to develop atrial fibrillation. In contrast, retirees showed no significant association between sleep duration and AF risk.
A new study from the University of East Anglia found that babies with an increased likelihood of autism may struggle to settle into deep, restorative sleep. Those with high sensory sensitivity slept more lightly even in quiet environments.
Research by Amita Sehgal and her team reveals that sleep helps neurons stay healthy by removing oxidative damage through lipid transfer to glia cells. This process is crucial for maintaining neuronal function and may contribute to the development of neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer's.
A new study found that aligning overnight fasting with the body's natural sleep-wake rhythm improved cardiovascular and metabolic health. Participants who extended their fast by two hours and dimmed lights three hours before bedtime showed significant improvements in blood pressure, heart rate, and blood-sugar control.
A Northwestern University study found that 75% of participants had dreams including puzzle fragments, with solved puzzles occurring more often in lucid and non-lucid dreams. Engineering dreams may help increase creative problem-solving ability.
The Sleep Innovation Laboratories, led by Dr. Matthew Walker and Eti Ben Simon, aims to bridge foundational neuroscience with real-world application related to sleep. The Labs will focus on creating greater access to engaging, actionable sleep education and advancing a core strategy of the Center for BrainHealth.
Scientists at Nagoya University identified a brain circuit that keeps mice awake in unfamiliar environments, releasing neurotensin to maintain wakefulness and protect against potential dangers. This discovery may explain the 'first night effect' in humans, where the brain remains vigilant on the first night in a new place.
The FENS Forum 2026 will be Europe's largest neuroscience congress, covering areas of basic to translational research. Journalists can register for free and attend symposia and poster sessions.
A new study from McGill University identified five distinct biological subtypes of chronotypes, which are linked to unique behavioral and health patterns. The research found that one group of night owls is more vulnerable to depression, while another group of early birds has fewer health problems overall.
A new clinical trial found that solriamfetol helped early morning shift workers with shift work disorder stay more alert and report better overall functioning. The study, published in NEJM Evidence, enrolled 78 early-morning shift workers and showed significant improvement in sleepiness and daily activities after four weeks of treatment.
Middle-aged and older adults who were more active in the evenings had poorer cardiovascular health compared to their peers who were more active during the day. This study, published in the Journal of the American Heart Association, found that evening chronotypes are associated with behaviors that can affect cardiovascular health, such ...
A study of 700 teens found that screen time negatively affects sleep quality and beliefs about healthy lifestyles. The researchers suggest reducing screen exposure, increasing social interaction, and promoting alternative activities to promote healthier lifestyles and better sleep.
Researchers found that sleeping without pillows can lower harmful high internal eye pressure in people with glaucoma. The study suggests that stacking pillows alter neck position, which compresses the jugular vein and prevents natural drainage of aqueous humor.
A study finds that nearly half of newborns with severe spina bifida experience breathing problems during sleep, which can be detected through comprehensive sleep studies. Early treatment may significantly improve cognitive development in these high-risk infants.
Scientists at the University of Surrey have created ultra-sensitive nanofiber-based sensors that can harness power from gentle movements, enabling continuous and maintenance-free sensing. These breakthrough sensors have potential applications in sleep disorder monitoring and dementia care.
The ŌURA–NUS Joint Lab combines wearable biometric data with sleep science expertise to study how sleep and physical activity shape long-term health outcomes. The lab aims to generate insights that help individuals, clinicians, and health systems shift from reactive care to proactive preventive health.