Articles tagged with Sleep
A recent study published in SLEEP found that inflammation may be the underlying mechanism linking extreme sleep durations to poor health. Short and long sleep durations were associated with changes in inflammatory cytokines, including C-reactive protein and interleukin-6.
Ascent to high altitudes causes a range of effects on the brain, including headaches, eye hemorrhages, and sleep disruptions. Research suggests that genetic predisposition, factors such as hypoxia-inducible factor, and venous system play a role in susceptibility to altitude-related illnesses.
Fibromyalgia patients experience disability and reduced quality of life due to chronic pain and fatigue. Antidepressant medications have been found to improve symptoms by reducing pain, improving sleep, and boosting mood.
A new study examines the experiences of older people with persistent pain, revealing nearly five million UK residents over 65 are affected. The report highlights ageist attitudes and emphasizes the need for improved assessment and treatment to address this issue.
A study published in BMC Evolutionary Biology found that animal species sleeping for longer periods have reduced parasite infestation and increased immune cells. This suggests that sleep plays an important role in protecting animals from parasitic infections.
A study found that frequent arousals in heart failure patients with central sleep apnea may be due to an underlying arousal disorder rather than CSA. This suggests that preventing arousals from sleep could be a new treatment approach for CSA.
A study by the American Academy of Sleep Medicine estimates that insomnia-related indirect costs are significantly higher than direct treatment costs. The total annual cost of insomnia in Quebec is estimated to be $6.5 billion, with lost productivity being the largest proportion of costs.
A study found that participants who slept an hour longer per night had a lower incidence of coronary artery calcification, a predictor of future heart disease. The association was similar to established coronary risk factors and held true even after adjusting for potential confounders.
A study found that OSA peaks between 0-4 years, then rises from 25-29 years to a peak at 55-59 years. Comorbid conditions most frequently appearing with OSA in adults are essential hypertension, obesity, and respiratory diseases. The data mining technique revealed the full clinical picture of comorbid conditions associated with OSA.
Researchers found that objectively measured snoring intensity is correlated with subjective sleepiness, independent of AHI, in patients with moderate to severe OSA. The study suggests that quantitative measurements of snoring are desirable in ordinary sleep studies.
A study found that delaying school start times by one hour improved teens' average nightly sleep hours and reduced their involvement in auto accidents. This change also led to a decrease in daytime sleepiness and an increase in students getting at least eight hours of sleep per night.
A study found that CPAP therapy reduces sleeping and nocturnal hyperglycemia, improving glucose control and long-term prognosis in type 2 diabetics with OSA. Glucose levels decreased by approximately 20 mg/dl after 41 days of treatment.
A study published in Archives of Otolaryngology–Head & Neck Surgery found that individuals with sleep-related breathing disorders tend to burn more calories when resting. The research, which assessed 212 adults, showed a significant association between the severity of breathing disorders and increased energy expenditure.
Young zebra finches learn new songs when they practice singing and then sleep, with changes in brain activity during sleep reflecting the tutor song and auditory feedback. This discovery provides insight into the role of sleep in learning and suggests a general mechanism for learning new skills.
A genome-wide association study found that a mutation near the MTNR1B gene is associated with increased average blood sugar levels and a higher risk of type 2 diabetes. The researchers suggest that treating sleep problems could partly tackle diabetes and high blood sugar levels.
Researchers found that night-shift workers who use bright light exposure therapy and wear dark sunglasses can improve performance and alertness during night shifts. The study suggests a compromise circadian phase position can be achieved, allowing for better nighttime sleep on days off.
Researchers at Monash University found a new drug, tasimelteon, that can effectively shift melatonin levels to alleviate jet lag and sleep disorders. The drug has the potential to improve sleep quality for patients with transient insomnia caused by time zone changes.
A study found that night shift workers who use bright light exposure therapy, dark sunglasses, and a strict sleep schedule can achieve a compromise circadian phase position, improving alertness and performance. This partial physiological adaptation allows for increased daytime sleep on days off.
A study published in The Lancet finds that low medicine availability and high prices in developing nations impede access to essential treatments. Tasimelteon, a melatonin analogue, has been shown to improve sleep efficiency and reduce latency for those affected by jet-lag or night shift work.
Researchers at Brandeis University have discovered a specific set of wake-promoting neurons in fruit flies that are analogous to cells in the human sleep circuit. The study found that these neurons play a crucial role in regulating sleep-wake cycles and that targeting them could lead to the development of more effective sleep treatments.
Researchers found that a night's sleep restored abilities lost after 12 hours of training, and protected memory against loss over the next day. Sleep consolidation may help in learning language processes and eye-hand skills.
A study published in Archives of Internal Medicine found that sleeping less than seven and a half hours per day is associated with future risk of heart disease. Patients with shorter sleep duration plus overnight increased blood pressure had a higher incidence of heart disease.
A study has found a specific neurochemical abnormality in the brains of adults with primary insomnia, suggesting hyperarousal is present during both waking and sleep. Gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) levels are reduced by nearly 30% in individuals with primary insomnia for more than six months.
A new Swedish study found that adjusting clocks to summer time increases the risk of myocardial infarction in the following week by about five percent. The readjustment back to winter time on the last Sunday in October reduces the risk, albeit to a lesser extent, due to the extra hour's sleep.
A recent study published in Journal of Clinical Sleep Medicine found that respiratory rhythms and cortisol levels can predict chronic insomnia in women with metastatic breast cancer. Breathing exercises such as yoga and meditation may help alleviate sleep disruptions, which are common among cancer patients.
Researchers found that women with metastatic breast cancer experience sleep disturbances due to autonomic nervous system dysregulation. Insomnia symptoms are associated with lower baseline respiratory sinus arrhythmia and increased stress levels.
A landmark study by NC State University researchers found that African-American seniors with sleep trouble have poorer memory performance. The study of 174 subjects aged 65-90 suggests that identifying and treating sleep difficulties may help preserve cognitive functioning.
A new study by the Kaiser Permanente Division of Research found that using a fan to improve room ventilation reduces the risk of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) by 72 percent. The study also found that opening a window in an infant's room reduces SIDS risk by 36 percent.
A study found that using a fan during sleep significantly lowers the risk of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS), particularly in rooms with inadequate ventilation. The use of fans was associated with a 72% decrease in SIDS risk, especially in infants who slept on their sides or shared beds.
A unique study successfully used instrumental sensorimotor rhythm conditioning (ISC) to improve sleep spindles, decrease sleep onset latency, and increase memory performance. Participants who trained their brain activity to shape SMR amplitude showed significant improvements in sleep quality and memory performance after two weeks.
A recent study published in the American Journal of Psychiatry has found that restless nights significantly increase the risk of depression recurrence in older adults. The research suggests that sleep disturbances can act as a precursor to another attack of depression, even in individuals who have not experienced symptoms before.
The HappyWakeUp smart alarm clock uses a microphone to detect subtle changes in sleep patterns, providing an optimal wake-up time. By waking users up during their natural 'awake' period, the device helps regulate internal clocks and reduces morning stress.
A study of 2,978 women aged 70 and older found that those sleeping five hours or less per night had a higher risk of falls. The risk was also associated with reduced sleep efficiency and greater wake time after initial sleep onset.
A study found that African-Americans have a lower prevalence of periodic limb movements during sleep, which is linked to a higher rate of insomnia complaints. The overall prevalence of PLMS is 7.6 percent, with a lower prevalence in African-Americans and a higher prevalence in Caucasians.
A neuroimaging study found that chronic insomnia is associated with compromised cognitive processes, but these deficits can be reversed through non-pharmacological treatment. Sleep therapy was shown to improve verbal fluency tasks and restore altered brain function in people with insomnia.
A study found that older adults with insomnia are less sensitive to changes in skin temperature, making it harder for them to detect when their body is too hot or cold. Warming the skin can facilitate sleep onset despite this decreased sensitivity.
A study found that older adults who slept more during rehabilitation had less functional recovery and took longer to recover. The study suggests that interventions to improve sleep patterns may promote functional recovery in older adults.
Healthy teens who slept less than 6.5 hours a night were 2.5 times more likely to have elevated blood pressure compared to those who slept longer, with an average increase of 4 mm Hg in systolic blood pressure. The study also found that poor sleep efficiency was associated with higher risk of prehypertension and hypertension.
Circadin, a new drug developed at Tel Aviv University, replenishes the hormone melatonin, which declines with age, to improve sleep quality and morning alertness in people over 55. This therapy has also been shown to normalize blood pressure and blood sugar levels at night.
A study found that older adult dementia caregivers have significantly worse sleep patterns than non-caregivers, with less total sleep time and increased daytime sleepiness. Caregivers also reported lower subjective sleep quality and higher depressive symptom scores.
A study found that sleep plays a key role in preserving emotional memories, strengthening the memory's emotional core while diminishing neutral background details. This process enables the brain to selectively preserve only the most salient information, leading to vivid recall of emotional events.
A new study published in the Quarterly Journal of Experimental Psychology found that conscious thinking can lead to better choices for complex decisions, debunking a controversial 2006 research result. The study suggests that unconscious thought is more susceptible to irrelevant factors and that conscious thinkers given adequate time t...
A small pilot study found that gabapentin reduced insomnia in recovering alcoholics and helped them stay away from alcohol more successfully. The study involved 21 insomniacs in recovery from alcohol dependence, with 30% of patients who received gabapentin relapsing to drinking compared to 80% of those on placebo.
A new study found that sleep-disordered breathing is associated with a two- to three-fold increase in the risk of death among adults aged 30 to 60. The severity of breathing issues was linked to an increased risk, with severe cases doubling mortality risk.
A study found that people with severe sleep apnea have a much higher mortality risk than those without, with an adjusted hazard ratio of 3.2. Regular CPAP use may protect against cardiovascular death, but the mechanisms are unclear.
A 14-year follow-up study found that individuals with moderate to severe obstructive sleep apnea had a significantly higher mortality rate compared to those with mild OSA or no sleep apnea. The study, which involved a community-based sample of adults, provides strong evidence linking sleep apnea to all-cause mortality.
Researchers found abnormal brain activity patterns due to bladder problems, potentially leading to disrupted sleep and attention issues. The study suggests targeting the locus ceruleus neural circuitry for potential treatment improvements in patients with bladder dysfunctions.
A new study found that more Internet time, less sleep, and higher alcohol consumption are associated with weight gain in adolescent girls. Girls who consumed 2 or more alcoholic beverages a week or slept less than 6 hours a night gained more weight.
Researchers found that shorter work rotas significantly improved patient care, with a 32.7% reduction in medical errors. However, there were concerns about reduced educational opportunities for junior doctors and potential delays in patient health investigations.
Difficulty sleeping and waking up early are more common in certain ethnic groups during menopause. The study found that Caucasian women were more likely to experience difficulty staying asleep, while Hispanic women were less likely to wake up frequently at night.
Researchers at Baylor College of Medicine discovered that mice deficient in fragile X and related genes have disrupted sleep-wake cycles, leading to a lack of rhythm. This finding provides new insights into the causes of fragile X syndrome and its impact on patients.
Two new studies evaluate bassinet use and bedsharing, finding that lack of oxygen is a common cause of death in bassinets. The researchers also identify risk factors for bassinet use, including blankets, pillows, and plastic bags.
A study by researchers at the University of Illinois Chicago found that women experience underreported hot flashes and these symptoms are linked to poor verbal memory. Objective measurement of hot flashes reveals a strong relationship between the number of hot flashes and memory performance.
The Phoenix Processor achieves a groundbreaking low-power design by focusing on its extreme sleep mode, which consumes just 30 picowatts. This innovation enables smaller battery sizes and overall system reductions, opening up new sensor applications.
A study by Rosemary Horne found that all severities of sleep-related breathing disorders (SRBD) in children are associated with elevated blood pressure during sleep. SRBDs range from primary snoring to obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), and can be detected through continuous measurements of blood pressure during overnight sleep.
A two-week study found that delaying school start time by one hour improved cognitive test scores in eighth graders. The experimental group woke up later and performed better on the first week, with longer sleep duration positively affecting cognitive functioning.
A study of 798 teenagers found that those with parents who suffer from chronic insomnia are more likely to experience sleep disturbances, depression, anxiety, and suicidal ideation. The research suggests that family sleep interventions could help alleviate these risks.
A study of 2,226 women aged 60 found that fewer complaints of sleep maintenance insomnia and less daytime napping were associated with successful aging. The research highlights the importance of good sleep for healthy aging, suggesting healthcare professionals should prioritize sleep improvement.
A study by Angela Jackman and colleagues found significant differences in heart rate and heart rate variability among children with primary snoring compared to controls. The results suggest that primary snoring may impact cardiovascular functioning equivalent to that of moderate obstructive sleep apnea.
A study by Jodi Mindell found significant differences in sleep patterns among young children worldwide, with predominantly Caucasian countries exhibiting longer bedtimes and more sleep. In contrast, Asian countries saw shorter total sleep times, increased parental perception of sleep problems, and higher rates of room-sharing.