Articles tagged with Sleep
Research Australia's Woolcock Institute study highlights occupational sleepiness in white-collar workplaces, including courts and hospitals. The report emphasizes the need for active monitoring and screening to treat sleep disorders, preventing situations like Judge Dodd's cancelled driver's licence.
A new study by Ronald R. Grunstein found that judicial sleepiness is viewed unfavorably by the media, society, and the judicial system as a whole. Experts recommend regulatory processes to ensure the fitness for duty of judges and maintain confidence in the judicial process.
Research found that sleep strengthens memory by protecting and consolidating information, leading to improved recall rates compared to wakefulness without interference. Sleep also helped individuals handle competing information more effectively.
Researchers found that taking breaks from studies, including getting a good night's sleep, enhances relational memory and 'big picture' inferences. This 'off-line' processing period allows the brain to unconsciously mull over information, leading to improved performance on complex tasks.
A recent study published in Biological Psychiatry found that prazosin significantly reduced trauma nightmares, improved sleep quality, and enhanced overall clinical condition in chronic PTSD patients. The study involved 40 veterans with PTSD, who showed a 71% improvement rate compared to those receiving placebo.
Researchers found that sleep enforces the temporal sequence in memories by replaying experiences in a forward direction. This process enhances word recall when students were asked to reproduce learned words in the correct order.
A study published by the American Academy of Sleep Medicine found that men who consume more alcohol have a higher risk of sleep-related breathing disorders. For each additional drink per day, the risk increases by 25%. The study suggests that men should avoid drinking before bedtime to minimize the risk.
A study published in JCSM found that 'night owls' experience more sleep/wake irregularities and waking distress due to insomnia. Insomnia affects 30% of adults, leading to serious health problems like depression, obesity, and cardiovascular disease.
Researchers found that up to 36% of people with mild traumatic brain injury suffer from circadian rhythm sleep disorder, which can worsen other symptoms. The study highlights the need for improved diagnosis and treatment of sleep disorders in these patients.
A recent study published in the journal SLEEP found that healthy older men who get less nighttime sleep have lower morning testosterone levels. The study, conducted by Plamen Penev, MD, PhD, used polysomnography and wrist activity monitoring to measure sleep duration and its impact on testosterone levels.
Actigraphy is a reliable tool for evaluating sleep disorders, including advanced sleep phase syndrome, delayed sleep phase syndrome, and shift work disorder. It also helps characterize circadian rhythms and sleep patterns in patients with insomnia and hypersomnia.
Air crew who work repeated long haul routes are at risk of menstrual cycle problems, transient psychotic disorders, and major affective disorders due to the effects of jet lag. The symptoms can last for several days and include disrupted sleep patterns, mood changes, and gastrointestinal difficulties.
A large-scale assessment of the general population found that nearly 30% need mental health care, with major depression and alcohol dependence being the top concerns. The study suggests that societal pressures, stigma, and lack of comprehensive insurance coverage are significant barriers to accessing care.
Researchers have identified a novel pathway in Trypanosoma brucei parasites that can be triggered to shut down the synthesis of a crucial RNA molecule, leading to parasite death. This discovery has implications for eradicating other parasitic diseases such as Leishmania and Chagas disease.
A University of Florida study reveals that humans acquired pubic lice from gorillas around 3.3 million years ago, providing insights into human evolution and the history of parasites. The research suggests that lice can be transmitted through non-sexual means, such as sleeping in close proximity or feeding on prey.
Researchers recorded activity in two brain regions during deep sleep, finding a complex 'dialogue' between the hippocampus and neocortex. The findings suggest that the neocortex drives communication during sleep, contradicting previous theories of hippocampal control.
A recent study published in the journal SLEEP found that treating insomnia is far less costly than ignoring it, with costs ranging from $924 to $1,143 for six months prior to treatment. The study suggests that addressing insomnia can lead to significant cost savings for individuals and employers.
A study found a link between children's and parents' sleep problems, with mothers more susceptible to daytime sleepiness due to their greater responsibility for responding to child sleep issues at night. Parents need to recognize that their children's sleep disorders can take a toll on them, affecting quality of life.
A study of patients with type 1 diabetes and healthy individuals found that only one patient with T1DM woke up in response to hypoglycemia, compared to ten healthy control participants. The researchers also discovered that increases in plasma epinephrine concentration preceded polysomnographic signs of wakefulness.
A new communication protocol, SCP-MAC, has been developed to optimize energy efficiency for wireless sensor networks, reducing monitoring time from 2-3% to under 2 minutes per day. This improvement enables sensornets to watch wildlife or oilfields with longer-lasting batteries.
A study published in the Journal of Clinical Sleep Medicine finds that adolescents with sleep disturbances are more likely to receive bad grades, experiencing symptoms such as restless legs, difficulty concentrating, and snoring. Parents and teens can improve school performance by following recommended sleep habits.
A new study reveals that African-American and poor children are more vulnerable to the effects of sleep disruption on their cognitive function, with poorer performance on school-related tests. The study suggests that health-related disparities between different groups of American children have important consequences.
A new study published in Child Development found that children who sleep more have lower BMI measures and are less likely to be overweight five years later. Sleeping an additional hour reduced young children's chance of being overweight from 36% to 30%, while it reduced older children's risk from 34% to 30%.
A Northwestern University study found that getting inadequate sleep increases the risk of being overweight in children. The five-year study, conducted on a nationally representative sample of 2,182 children aged 3-18, suggests that even an extra hour of sleep can reduce a child's chance of being overweight.
A study by Chiara Cirelli and colleagues shows that the quality and intensity of wakefulness affect slow-wave activity (SWA) during subsequent sleep. High exploratory activity during wakefulness leads to increased brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) expression, which in turn affects SWA.
A new study published in the journal Sleep reveals that parasomnias are common and frequent in children. Pediatricians should actively involve parents in identifying symptoms and taking an active approach to helping their child overcome a sleep disorder. Home videos and sleep diaries can be useful tools for classifying parasomnias.
Researchers investigate fatigue in various populations, finding distinct definitions for tiredness, fatigue, and exhaustion. The study aims to prevent progression from tiredness to exhaustion, emphasizing the importance of recognizing changes consistent with fatigue and exhaustion.
Researchers discover a mutant gene that affects the body's natural wake-up time, shedding light on the genetic basis of sleep in humans. The study provides new insights into the circadian clock's regulation and may lead to therapies for conditions like jet lag and shift work sleep disorder.
A comprehensive review published in the journal SLEEP found that environmental exposures before the age of onset in genetically susceptible individuals may contribute to the development of narcolepsy. The study suggests intensifying the search for these exposures and focusing on the first two decades of life to prevent the disease.
A study published in SLEEP found that sleep disturbances are prevalent among individuals who have attempted suicide, with 89% reporting some form of disturbance. Nightmares were particularly common and associated with a five-fold increase in suicidal risk.
A study published in SLEEP found that sleep-disturbed children are more severely depressed and have more depressive symptoms. The research also showed that having both insomnia and hypersomnia leads to a longer history of illness and more severe depression than either condition alone.
MIT researchers report that replayed memories in rats' brains contain visual images, reinforcing the idea that animal dreams mimic human experiences. The study reveals simultaneous reactivation of memory traces in both the visual cortex and hippocampus during sleep.
A clinical trial has found that a combination of nifurtimox-eflornithine offers a cure rate over twice that of current treatments for second-stage African trypanosomiasis. This combination also resulted in lower rates of adverse events, suggesting potential as a future therapy.
A new study reveals that insomnia and sleep perception can significantly impact alcohol recovery, with patients who overestimate their sleep quality being more likely to relapse. The research suggests addressing sleep disturbances is crucial for effective recovery.
Scientists at the Max Planck Institute for Medical Research have found that the cerebral cortex actively controls memory transfer during sleep. The researchers developed a new technique to investigate this largely under-researched field, discovering a link between interneurones and the cerebral cortex.
Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is associated with decreased cardiac function, leading to increased daytime sleepiness. A behavioral-educational intervention improved nighttime sleep for new mothers and their babies, resulting in better overall sleep quality.
Individuals in early recovery from alcoholism who have inaccurate sleep perceptions are more likely to return to drinking. Poor sleep quality can lead to mood disturbances and increased vulnerability to relapse.
Research published in Obesity shows that one-fourth of overweight, inactive children tested positive for sleep-disordered breathing. After three months of vigorous exercise, the number of children with sleep disorders was cut in half, and even those who exercised less saw an improvement on a pediatric sleep questionnaire.
A new study published in Child Development found that children report more frequent sleep problems than their parents acknowledge. The researchers suggest that genetic and environmental influences play a role in most sleep problems. Parents may be unaware of night waking or delayed sleeping patterns, leading to overestimation by children.
Researchers challenge long-held theory of memory storage by discovering the neocortex drives dialogue between old and new brain regions during deep sleep. The study uses single-cell recordings to show synchronized communication, suggesting a reversal in traditional understanding of memory consolidation.
Researchers found that piggyBac transposon is five to 10 times better than other circular pieces of DNA at making a home and difference in several mammalian cell lines. This could lead to safer and more efficient gene delivery for therapeutic applications.
A team of German scientists has uncovered a genetic basis for the human familial advanced sleep phase syndrome (FASPS), which causes people to go to sleep and wake up early. The study identified a mutated gene, PER2, and its phosphorylation sites that lead to the disorder's symptoms.
A recent analysis found that over 17% of adults in the US reported trouble sleeping or insomnia, with 4.5% using complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) to treat their condition. The most common types of CAM used were biologically based therapies and mind-body therapies.
A national survey of 31,044 adults found that approximately 4.5% of those with insomnia reported using complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) to treat their condition. CAM therapies were used by 65% of respondents who sought biological methods, such as herbal medicines and diet interventions.
Individuals with sleep-related breathing disorders are significantly more likely to develop depression, especially those with moderate or worse disorders. The study found a dose-response association between sleep-related breathing disorder and depression, suggesting a causal link between the conditions.
Patients with allergic rhinitis experience more difficulty sleeping and sleep disorders compared to those without allergies. Allergic rhinitis affects about 20-50% of the population, contributing to snoring, breathing problems, and sleep apnea.
Research findings published in this issue of Archives of Internal Medicine highlight the importance of sleep evaluation in routine medical care. Studies show that fewer hours of sleep may contribute to poor health in young adults and affect body mass index, while also impacting the immune system and quality of life.
A study of 161 African-Americans with type 2 diabetes found that poor sleep quality and quantity were associated with higher HbA1c levels, indicating poorer blood glucose control. The results suggest that optimizing sleep duration and quality may improve glucose control in patients with type 2 diabetes.
The University of North Carolina has received a $21.3 million grant from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation to develop new treatments for late-stage African sleeping sickness and visceral leishmaniasis. The project aims to create affordable therapies for diseases affecting hundreds of thousands of people in developing nations.
A study published in Alcoholism: Clinical & Experimental Research found that acamprosate improved sleep disturbances in alcohol-dependent patients attempting to stop drinking. The medication was shown to reduce sleep problems during acute withdrawal and maintain its effects after two weeks of treatment.
A study by Penn researchers found that truck drivers who get too little sleep or suffer from sleep apnea show signs of fatigue and impaired performance. The study examined 406 truck drivers and found that those with severe sleep apnea had performance impairment similar to that of drivers who are legally drunk.
A study of 340 drivers found that chronic short sleep duration and severe sleep apnea increase the risk of sleepiness, performance impairment, and decreased task vigilance while driving. The researchers suggest that the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration should implement plans to identify and treat sleep-impaired drivers.
A new study found that frequent naps in infants improve their ability to learn abstract concepts and generalize knowledge to new phrases. The research, published in Psychological Science, suggests that sleep plays a crucial role in cognitive development.
African sleeping sickness parasite Trypanosoma brucei evolves an unusual chromosomal structure to diversify its VSG genes and evade human immune response. This adaptation enables the parasite to change protein expression rapidly, allowing it to persist in a host population.
A Stanford cardiologist studied the effects of extreme exercise on the hearts of endurance athletes after a four-day ultra-endurance race. He found that even highly fit athletes experience cardiac fatigue under such conditions, with the heart pumping less blood at the end of the race compared to the beginning.
A new drug, eszopiclone, has been shown to improve sleep quality and reduce daytime napping in elderly patients with insomnia. The study found that eszopiclone significantly reduced wakefulness after sleep had begun and improved sleep efficiency and total sleep time.
Sleep disturbance in the elderly is associated with decreased memory, impaired concentration, and impaired ability to function. Geriatricians recommend addressing sleep problems through lifestyle changes, such as keeping a diary to track sleep patterns, and trying daytime walks and environmental adjustments to improve sleep quality.
Researchers have discovered that sleep improves memory consolidation by strengthening recently learned word pairs and making them more resistant to interference. The study found that sleep benefits declarative memory, a type of memory linked to the brain's hippocampus, particularly when faced with competing information.
A study found that diphenhydramine hydrochloride did not improve infant sleep or parents' happiness with their children's sleep. Parents who took the medication experienced no significant difference in nighttime awakenings or parental satisfaction with their child's sleep.
A new study by Georgetown University Medical Center found that diphenhydramine, a widely used antihistamine, has no benefit in helping infants and toddlers sleep. The study involved 44 children aged 6-15 months and showed only 1 out of 22 children improved sleeping after using the drug.