Research on sleep and its role in health. Covers restorative sleep, nighttime light exposure, sleeplessness, and the links between sleep and disease.
A study published in Sleep Medicine Reviews found that bathing 1-2 hours before bedtime in water of 104-109 degrees Fahrenheit can significantly improve sleep quality. This is due to the cooling effect on the body, which regulates the circadian cycle and helps with rapid sleep onset.
Researchers found a way to stimulate the waking of persisters, dormant bacterial cells that evade antibiotics and lead to chronic infections. Breaking links in the 'pore' formed by peptides enables these sleeping bacteria to regain energy and infect the host again.
Researchers measured VOC emissions from polyurethane mattresses under simulated sleeping conditions, finding elevated levels of some compounds that could cause eye irritation, headaches, and even cancer. The study emphasizes the need for further research on possible health effects of chronic exposure to VOCs.
African countries study finds that 87.5% of mosquito bites occur indoors, while bed-time bites account for 79.4%, highlighting the need for effective vector control measures.
Research suggests that being a morning person is associated with a lower risk of developing breast cancer. Sleeping longer than the recommended 7-8 hours may also increase the risk. The findings have implications for influencing sleep habits to improve health.
A mobile-sensing system tracks physical, emotional, and behavioral well-being of workers to classify high and low performers. The system achieved an accuracy of 80% in distinguishing between high and low performers across different industries.
A new study by UC Berkeley researchers found that nearly half of US-born Latinx youth worry about the impact of US immigration policies on their families. Those with more concerns experience higher anxiety and poorer sleep quality, impacting their well-being and long-term health.
A study of 50 Atlanta-area adults found that poor sleep time and quality negatively impact memory recall in older adults. The research also revealed significant racial differences in sleep patterns tied to lower memory performance.
Researchers found that serotonin produced by the raphe region is required for zebrafish and mice to get normal amounts of sleep. The team used genetically modified models to demonstrate this, with light stimulation putting fish and mice to sleep only when activating serotonin-producing neurons.
A recent study found that undiagnosed obstructive sleep apnea significantly increases the likelihood of multiple involuntary job losses. Adults with moderate-to-severe sleep apnea were more than twice as likely to have experienced a history of multiple job layoffs or firings.
Research finds that cutting off lights at bedtime could reduce women's chances of becoming obese. The study analyzed data from 43,722 women and found a link between artificial light exposure and increased weight gain.
An observational study of nearly 44,000 women found that exposure to artificial light at night while sleeping was associated with measures of obesity at baseline and follow-up. Reducing exposure to artificial light at night could be considered in obesity prevention interventions.
A new study found that people who get less than 7 hours of sleep per night tend to consume fewer essential vitamins and minerals. The research also revealed a greater association between poor sleep and lower nutrient intake in women.
A randomized controlled trial found that telemedicine cognitive behavioral therapy for insomnia was equally effective to in-person delivery in improving sleep outcomes. Participants reported no differences in therapist alliance or satisfaction with treatment between the two groups.
Research found that participants who shifted their sleep/wake timings could bring forward their bedtime and wake-up time by two hours, leading to improvements in depression, stress, and daytime sleepiness. Participants also reported better mental well-being and increased cognitive performance during the morning.
A new study links severe sleep-disordered breathing to epigenetic age acceleration, with women showing stronger associations than men. The study found that untreated sleep-disordered breathing can accelerate aging by the equivalent of 215-321 days.
A new study found that insufficient sleep is associated with a wide variety of mental health symptoms in college students, including depressed mood, hopelessness, anger, anxiety, and desire to self-harm. The risk of experiencing these symptoms increases by over 20% for every additional night of insufficient sleep.
A new study suggests that sleep disturbances are associated with mental health problems among survivors of a natural disaster, even two years after the event. The research found significant positive correlations between sleep disturbances and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and symptoms of depression.
A new study found that small intestine bacterial overgrowth (SIBO) is prevalent among patients with restless legs syndrome, affecting up to 100% of participants. The study suggests a possible link between gut microbial health and the development of sleep disorders like RLS.
Middle and high school students slept 31 minutes longer and felt less sleepy for homework after their school district changed to later start times. The study found significant benefits of delayed school start times on adolescent sleep duration, alertness, and academic engagement.
A new study found that only seven out of 513 social service policies include material on healthy sleep education for children, with the majority focusing on compliance-driven standards. The research highlights the need for policy recommendations to promote trauma-informed care and integrate healthy sleep into existing programs.
The study found that individualized therapy approaches such as stimulus control and sleep restriction are effective in treating insomnia, while a combination approach was minimally effective. The research used a strategy focused solely on sleep education and hygiene, which showed minimal impact on symptoms.
A new study found that irregular sleep patterns are associated with a higher risk of metabolic disorders, including obesity and high cholesterol. The research suggests that maintaining a regular sleep schedule has beneficial effects on metabolism.
Extending sleep duration has been associated with improved insulin sensitivity and reduced appetite for sweet and salty foods. Higher total sleep time was linked to lower caloric intake from protein and decreased overall sugar consumption.
A systematic review found that opioids have a small improvement in sleep quality, but this is not consistent with results from sleep assessment technologies. Patients on opioid therapy are also at risk of excessive daytime sleepiness and increased risks of sleep apnea. The study calls for better research into the effects of painkillers...
A study published in Psychosomatic Medicine found that a bad night's sleep can lead to a spike in blood pressure, even on the following day. Researchers wore portable blood pressure cuffs and actigraphy monitors on participants to measure the impact of sleep efficiency on cardiovascular health.
New research from the University of British Columbia suggests that chronic low-quality sleep is associated with poorer health outcomes among young B.C. students. Kids who regularly had trouble falling or staying asleep were almost two and half times as likely to report sub-optimal health compared to those who did not.
A large national study tracked the health of over 3,000 US veterans using a standardized tool, finding they scored worse in several areas, including anxiety, depression, and pain. The study's results provide valuable insights into the health of veterans relative to the general population.
A recent study published in SLEEP found that children who nap for at least 30 minutes, three days a week, experience improved happiness, self-control, grit, fewer behavioral problems, and higher IQ. The study suggests that napping can have positive effects on academic achievement, particularly for sixth graders.
A recent study by Brigham and Women's Hospital researchers found four sites of DNA methylation associated with sleepiness in both African American participants from the MESA and CHS studies. Additionally, they discovered 14 such sites among only African American participants from both studies.
Researchers identified TIMELESS as a potential circadian clock regulator involved in minor sleep phase changes. A mutation in the TIMELESS gene causes accumulation of the protein, leading to phase advances in mice and advanced sleep phase in humans.
Researchers discovered that poor sleep quality is a significant contributor to peptic ulcer relapse in older adults. Participants with improved sleep demonstrated lower rates of heart disease, diabetes, and excessive alcohol consumption compared to those with recurrent ulcers.
A new study led by Penn State found that exercise can help teenagers sleep longer and more efficiently. Participants who engaged in moderate-to-vigorous physical activity fell asleep 18 minutes earlier and slept for 10 minutes longer than those who were sedentary. The researchers also found connections between sleep and activity the fo...
Researchers used machine learning to analyze jaw movements during sleep, providing information about respiratory effort and offering a cost-effective alternative to polysomnography. This method has the potential to diagnose mild to severe obstructive sleep apnea at home with high accuracy.
A new study reveals that over 60% of infant deaths in car seats occur due to misuse, with most happening at home. The safest place for a baby to sleep is on a firm, flat surface outside of these devices.
A study of over 19,000 people found that women with obstructive sleep apnea are more likely to be diagnosed with cancer than men. The research, published in the European Respiratory Journal, suggests that women with severe OSA and low blood oxygen levels during sleep may be at greater risk of developing cancer.
A new study found that limiting extended-duration shifts improved sleep duration among pediatric resident physicians, with weekly sleep duration increasing nearly four hours overall. The study enrolled 302 resident physicians and used a clustered-randomized crossover clinical trial to compare two work schedules.
Researchers discover potential way to wake up 'sleeping' genes that cause Prader-Willi syndrome, a devastating and incurable genetic condition. The approach aims to reduce severe symptoms such as obesity, developmental delays, and hormone dysfunction by targeting the genetic cause of the condition.
A study published in Sleep Health found that preschoolers who watch TV sleep significantly less than those who don't. The research suggests that TV use affects the quality and duration of sleep, and even stimulates or violent adult programming can interfere with children's ability to fall asleep.
A UC Riverside-led team found strong associations between working memory and factors like sleep quality, age, and depressed mood. The researchers discovered that each factor affects different aspects of working memory, with poor sleep quality and depressed mood linked to reduced quantitative memory.
A University at Buffalo study found that cyberbullying is linked to poor sleep quality, which can exacerbate depression in teens. Nearly 15% of high school students report being bullied online.
Chronic short sleep is linked to clogged arteries and increased mortality rates. Lowered levels of microRNA molecules are now recognized as sensitive biomarkers for cardiovascular health, inflammation, and disease.
A study found that new mothers who slept more had greater well-being, while fathers who slept more reported lower overall well-being. The researchers also discovered that on days when fathers exercised more, there was a lower likelihood of arguments with their partners.
A new study finds that women and mice experience changes in their daily schedules and activity levels during the first third of pregnancy. The study suggests that these changes may be related to hormonal influences and could have implications for preterm birth prevention.
A new quality improvement tool called Eat, Sleep and Console (ESC) has been shown to improve care of opioid-exposed newborns in NICUs. The ESC approach uses non-pharmacologic interventions and reduces hospital stays and medication exposure.
A new study found that women tend to underreport snoring and underestimate its loudness, with only 72% reporting snoring compared to 88% objective measurements. Women also reported snoring less often and described it as milder, potentially due to social stigma.
A study found that increasing physical activity can eliminate the association between sedentary behavior and increased mortality risk. Replacing sitting with standing or vigorous physical activity was more consistently associated with risk reduction in high sitters.
A new study reveals that soft bedding is responsible for almost 70% of sleep-related infant deaths. The most common causes of suffocation in babies under one year old are overlay, soft bedding, and wedging.
Researchers from the University of Surrey argue that a switch to permanent daylight saving time would undermine the sleep benefits of delaying school start times. This could lead to inadequate levels of sleep among teenagers, despite efforts to improve their health and graduation rates.
Researchers warn that permanent daylight savings time could negate benefits from delaying school start times, which aim to give teens more sleep. The study suggests that schools would need to delay start times by one hour during winter months under permanent DST.
A Canadian study of over 2,400 families found that spending two hours or more of screen time per day is associated with clinically significant behavioral problems in preschoolers. Organized sports and good quality sleep were also identified as protective factors against the negative effects of screen time.
A new study identifies 20 common sleep myths that can lead to poor habits and serious health risks. The researchers suggest creating a consistent sleep schedule and spending at least seven hours asleep to promote overall better health.
Researchers at Hiroshima University Hospital have developed an oral appliance to treat mild to moderate sleep apnea. The treatment, which brings the jawbone forward to enlarge air passageways, was found to halve sleep apnea episodes and widen airways in a study of 13 patients.
A recent study by Dr. David Munoz reveals the APOE ε4 allele affects sleep patterns differently in women and men with Alzheimer's disease. The research found carriers of this gene variant experience more nighttime disturbances than non-carriers, highlighting a gender-based effect on sleep behavior.
A study published in the Clinical Journal of the American Society of Nephrology found that pruritus affects 24% of patients with non-dialysis chronic kidney disease. Patients with pruritus reported poorer mental and physical quality of life, depression, and restless sleep.
Researchers have identified phosphodiesterase-B1 as a critical gene for the transmission of African sleeping sickness, a disease transmitted by tsetse flies. The study reveals that the parasite's movement from the fly's midgut to the salivary gland is controlled by this gene, providing new insights into the disease-causing mechanism.
A new study published in EClinicalMedicine found that pregnant women who sleep on their backs are at a higher risk of stillbirth, with the risk increasing by 2.6 times after 28 weeks of pregnancy. The NHS has now incorporated the findings into its Saving Babies' Lives care advice information for pregnant women.
A study found that teenagers with ADHD who got less sleep experienced significant deficits in executive functioning skills, including working memory, planning, and organization. In contrast, those who got more sleep showed improved performance.
A study published in Nature Communications has found 47 links between the genetic code and sleep quality, quantity, and timing. The research team identified a gene called PDE11A as affecting not only sleep duration but also quality, with variants impacting sleep measures.
Scientists have engineered a fungus to produce a high-concentration antibiotic, which could treat African sleeping sickness. The breakthrough uses genetic modification to create a non-toxic variant of the antibiotic, offering a cost-effective solution to this neglected tropical disease.