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 reveals the complex brain circuits involved in growth hormone release during sleep. The findings provide a map for understanding how sleep and hormone regulation interact, potentially leading to new treatments for sleep disorders and degenerative diseases.
A study by University of Otago researchers found that young adults who prioritize good sleep, eat more fruit and vegetables, and stay physically active experience improved well-being. These basic lifestyle behaviours can meaningfully enhance well-being without costly interventions.
Researchers have deciphered the fly brain's process of filtering out visual information during sleep, creating a 'window' that allows strong stimuli to wake them up. This study may hold parallels for human brain function and could reveal a universal principle of sleep.
Researchers at Mass General Brigham identified seven metabolites in the blood associated with excessive daytime sleepiness (EDS), a condition linked to increased risk of cardiovascular disease, obesity, and diabetes. The study also found that dietary changes or supplements may help reduce EDS risk.
The American Academy of Sleep Medicine is hosting Sleep Medicine Disruptors 2025, a biennial event exploring technology innovation and artificial intelligence in sleep health. The event will feature keynote address by Dr. Robert Pearl and award entries for innovative products and services supporting sleep health.
A small randomized controlled trial found that blowing through a conch shell for six months reduced symptoms of obstructive sleep apnea, including daytime sleepiness and breathing interruptions. The study suggests that conch blowing may be a simple, low-cost alternative to traditional treatments like CPAP.
Researchers are exploring whether wearable devices can detect early signs of cardiovascular disease through physical activity, sleep and blood pressure data. The study aims to develop a machine-learning model that uses data from wearable sensors to predict cardiovascular risk.
Researchers found that chronic disturbance of a mother cockroach's sleep harms baby development by prolonging gestation and interfering with milk production. This study uses the Pacific beetle-mimic cockroach as an animal model to explore connections between pregnancy and sleep in humans.
Research suggests that sleeping on a difficult task can improve performance by strengthening and consolidating memories in the brain. A new study found that rhythmic brain activity during sleep in areas active during training correlates with improved task performance after waking.
A new UT Arlington study explores how sleep deprivation affects police performance and suggests tailored sleep interventions may help. Officers reported getting seven hours or less of sleep per night due to shift work, job pressure, and emotional fatigue.
Researchers used mathematical modelling to explain why babies nap on some days but not others, and how older people wake up earlier. The study showed that the 2PM model reflects brain activity as people switch between sleep and wakefulness, offering new insights into sleep patterns and potential solutions.
A study from the UJI reveals how the brain interprets social hierarchies and emotional facial expressions through the anterior temporal lobe. The upper part of this region is strongly activated when individuals make decisions based on emotional facial expressions, particularly in those with high levels of anxiety.
A new study found that older adults with insomnia face triple the risk of developing depressive symptoms compared to sound sleepers. The study suggests that treatments targeted at inflammation-related depression may benefit these patients and improve their overall quality of life.
A new study found that verbal reaction time can detect sleepiness in older adults, a common safety risk. Voice analysis method reliably detected when someone was speaking versus silent with high accuracy.
A new Swedish twin study found that genetics largely determine an infant's crying duration, with 50% of variation explained by genes at 2 months and 70% by 5 months. Environmental factors also play a role in infants' ability to settle during the first months of life.
A new study explores the role of sleep in elite male cyclists during the Tour de France, finding that riders pushing hardest tend to sleep less and report lower quality sleep. Despite this, most riders still manage to get more than 8 hours of sleep per night.
A new study from Mass General Brigham researchers found that an average of 21% of teen drivers engage in distracted driving, with many believing their peers drive distracted due to social norms. The study suggests encouraging strategies like 'Do Not Disturb' mode and ensuring teens get adequate sleep can mitigate this behavior.
A recent study published in PLOS Biology found that taking a nap with deeper sleep can lead to increased 'aha' moments, with 70.6% of participants experiencing insight after a 20-minute rest period.
The study found that sleep schedules differ between weekdays and weekends, with most people catching up on lost sleep over the weekend. Seasonal changes also play a bigger role than expected, with people sleeping more in winter and less during summer months. Irregular sleep can be linked to adverse health risks.
A research team analyzed YouTube videos of sleeping cats to find that two thirds sleep on their left side. This bias is thought to be an evolutionary strategy, favoring the use of the right hemisphere of the brain for spatial awareness and threat processing after waking.
Researchers at the University of Michigan propose a new theory that non-REM sleep strengthens memories, while REM prunes overlapping ones. This sequence helps reinforce relevant memories and keeps unrelated ones distinct.
This study found that increased screen time in late childhood was associated with more depressive symptoms, likely due to shorter sleep duration. Poor white matter organization during early adolescence may also contribute to this link.
A Waseda University research team developed a method to measure thermal insulation of bedding systems, considering individual body parts. The study found that relying solely on whole-body insulation is not enough and revealed the importance of optimizing sleep environments for better quality.
A new study reveals that tweens who use devices in bed and receive notifications are more likely to experience sleep disturbance. Experts recommend keeping screens outside the bedroom, turning off notifications, and avoiding social media before bedtime to promote healthier sleep habits.
A new study found that eating one avocado daily for six months improved sleep duration and reduced LDL-C and total cholesterol levels in adults. The American Heart Association recognizes healthy sleep duration as a key lifestyle factor in heart health.
A new study found that moderate catch-up sleep on weekends is linked to fewer anxiety symptoms in teens, while excessive sleep can lead to more internalizing symptoms. The American Academy of Sleep Medicine recommends 8-10 hours of sleep per night for teenagers.
A week-long web-based wellbeing intervention boosted participants' happiness through daily micro-acts, including sharing inspiring moments and performing kind acts. The Big Joy Project tested the effectiveness of a simple yet impactful approach to improving well-being.
Researchers discovered that stress activates neurons in the paraventricular nucleus of the hypothalamus, leading to impaired sleep and memory. Inhibiting these neurons reduced stress-related memory issues while slightly improving sleep.
Researchers from the Mount Sinai Health System are presenting new studies on the impact of sleep on neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer's. The studies explore the relationship between obstructive sleep apnea and Alzheimer's pathogenesis, as well as the effects of sleep disruption on spatial learning and neuroinflammation.
A research-based workbook tackles chronic nightmares and insomnia, offering tools to rewrite distressing dreams, improve sleep quality, and regain daytime functioning. The author, MSU Psychology Professor Michael R. Nadorff, aims to provide empirically-supported treatments for this debilitating disorder.
Research suggests that people with insomnia disorders have intact sleep-wake regulatory systems, indicating that cognitive behavioral therapy for insomnia (CBT-I) may be an effective treatment. Objective sleep parameters and direct sleep-wake perception did not significantly differ from healthy participants, highlighting the potential ...
A new study finds that poor sleep quality is related to relationship insecurity, which moderates the effect of sleep quality on daily feelings of jealousy. Anxious attachment styles are particularly vulnerable to these effects. The study highlights the complex link between sleep and relationships.
College students who delay bedtimes for social activities have shorter sleep duration and stronger desire for belonging. The need to belong is a key driver of social bedtime procrastination and short sleep, according to a new study presented at the SLEEP 2025 annual meeting.
Research found that LGBTQ+ adolescents experiencing violence, bullying, or rejection have trouble falling asleep, whereas those with supportive environments sleep better. Gender minority youth who can use restrooms matching their identity also report less sleep struggle.
A new study reveals that bedtime procrastination is associated with specific personality traits, including neuroticism and low conscientiousness. This finding suggests that emotional health may be a potential target for interventions to address bedtime procrastination.
A new study found that eating dinner with family and participating in neighborhood activities are associated with longer sleep durations, while family conflict and technology-mediated connections are linked to shorter sleep. High parental engagement is also a key predictor of sufficient sleep in pre-teen children.
A new study found that middle-aged women with high scores on the Epworth Sleepiness Scale had a 16% increased risk of all-cause mortality. The study analyzed data from 40,250 female veterans and found no association between excessive daytime sleepiness and mortality in younger or older women.
A new study from the University of Michigan reveals that humans' circadian rhythms are still wild at heart, tracking seasonal changes in daylight. The research shows a genetic component to this seasonality, which could help explain individual differences in how strongly people are affected by changes in day length.
Researchers found that lemborexant improves sleep patterns and reduces abnormal tau protein buildup, which causes inflammation and brain cell death. The study suggests lemborexant could help treat or prevent neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer's, progressive supranuclear palsy, and corticobasal syndrome.
A new study found that oral microbiome diversity is positively associated with long sleep duration among teenagers and young adults. This association suggests a potential relationship between the oral microbiome and sleep health during adolescence, an essential developmental period.
A systematic review of 10 studies found no evidence that mouth taping helps treat sleep-disordered breathing or obstructive sleep apnea. However, mouth taping may be associated with some improvement in mild obstructive sleep apnea severity in a subset of patients.
People who sit for more than 14 hours a day may have a higher risk of cardiovascular events or death after treatment for heart attack symptoms. Replacing sedentary time with sleep reduces the risk, according to new research published in Circulation: Cardiovascular Quality and Outcomes.
A new study led by researchers at Mass General Brigham found that more than half of sleep sessions end in a snooze alarm, with users spending an average of 11 minutes on the device. Snooze usage varied by day of the week and was lower among those sleeping five or fewer hours.
Five individuals have been recognized for their exceptional dedication to advancing the field of sleep medicine, with a focus on research, education, advocacy, and clinical care. The award recipients include Dr. Carol Rosen, Dr. Reena Mehra, Dr. Ilene Rosen, Dr. Nathaniel Watson, and Dr. Dennis Hwang.
A narrative review found disruptions in the cortico-striatal-thalamo-cortical pathway and dysregulation of dopamine and GABA primary neurotransmitters in patients with obsessive-compulsive spectrum disorders, chronic tic disorders, and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder. This may lead to more effective treatments for sleep-relate...
A recent study published in Osteoarthritis and Cartilage reveals that obesity is a leading cause of knee osteoarthritis. The research also found that certain lifestyle changes, such as following a Mediterranean diet and engaging in regular physical activity, can significantly reduce the risk of developing the condition.
A study analyzing data from nearly 5,000 people in 20 countries revealed significant cultural differences in optimal sleep hours, contradicting the universal 8-hour recommendation. People who slept closer to their own culture's norms tended to have better overall health.
Researchers from the University of Texas at San Antonio discovered a significant link between REM sleep disturbances and increased PTSD severity. The study suggests that targeting REM sleep could be a promising approach for improving PTSD treatment outcomes.
A study found that parental technology use in a child's presence was negatively associated with cognitive and psychosocial outcomes, as well as screen time among young children. The effect sizes were small, highlighting the need for further research on potential impacts on physical activity, sleep, and motor skills.
A recent study by the International Institute for Integrative Sleep Medicine found that a gamified sleep-tracking mobile application improved sleep parameters, including total sleep time and sleep latency, among participants. The study also showed that these improvements correlated with reduced body mass index (BMI) in some users.
Researchers at UCLA Health are launching a clinical trial to test whether wearable nerve stimulation can ease ADHD symptoms in children with prenatal alcohol exposure. The study aims to improve focus and behavior by gently stimulating the trigeminal nerve, which is linked to attention and executive function.
Research found that adolescents who slept longer performed better at cognitive tests, with those sleeping 7-25 minutes more performing better. The study also found differences in brain volume and structure between the groups.
A large-scale study published in JNeurosci reveals distinct brain activity patterns during lucid dreaming compared to rapid eye movement sleep and wakefulness. The findings suggest shifts in brain region activation and communication that may be linked to changes in perception, memory processing, self-awareness, and cognitive control.
A new study published in Sleep reveals a strong connection between insomnia symptoms, sleep medication use, and disability in older adults. The research found that incremental increases in insomnia symptoms and sleep medication use were associated with a 20% increased risk of disability the following year.
Researchers at the University of Missouri's Thompson Center for Autism and Neurodevelopment have found that behavior at 9 months old can indicate a 1-year-old's likelihood of being at risk for autism. Parent surveys reported fussiness, irritability, and difficulty calming down were associated with early signs of autism by 12 months.
The new AASM position statement emphasizes the clinical significance of sleepiness, associated with increased risks for adverse health effects and diminished quality of life. The statement urges healthcare professionals to prioritize evaluation, management, and treatment of sleepiness.
Researchers found that introducing moderate natural light into the bedroom before waking improves wakefulness and reduces sleepiness. The study suggests controlling natural light in the sleep environment may help promote a more comfortable awakening.
Researchers found that fruit flies that successfully evade mite attacks at night lose valuable sleep, sacrificing energy and nutrients. The study's lead author noted that sleep deprivation can have detrimental effects on animal health and behavior.
Eight hospitals, including Oklahoma Children’s Hospital, receive funding to refine discharge processes for mothers and babies with neonatal abstinence syndrome. The program aims to provide continuity of care through prenatally-based education and post-discharge support.
A two-week in-patient study found that eating during the day but not at night reduced cardiovascular risk factors in healthy young participants after simulated night work. This finding supports adjusting food timing to mitigate health risks associated with shift work.