Topic: Sleep in the News

New research indicates that the use of sleep medication to try to get a good night’s sleep may be an indicator of a larger problem. In a Geriatrics & Gerontology International study of 752 older adults with hypertension followed from 2008-2010 through 2012-2013, using sleeping pills on a regular basis was linked with use of an increasing…
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A global study commissioned by IHG®, one of the world’s leading hotel companies, has revealed that a lack of sleep is a primary concern for travellers, with four in five (80%) stating they have trouble sleeping when travelling away from home. The findings from the survey revealed that business travelers lose nearly an hour of…
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People who love coffee sometimes say just the smell makes them start to wake up.  A new study goes one step further — saying just looking at something that reminds them of coffee can cause our minds to become more alert and attentive. “Coffee is one of the most popular beverages and a lot is…
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Why do humans “waste” a third time of their lives sleeping? Throughout the animal kingdom, sleep is universal and essential to all organisms with a nervous system, including invertebrates such as flies, worms, and even jellyfish. But the evolutionary reason for sleep, which puts an animal at significant risk of predators for part of its…
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A new study has found a link between lack of the sleep and reduced ability to regulate your behavior.  One side-effect of this, researchers found, was a increased tendency to procrastinate. Individuals who have low self-regulation are more prone to procrastination than those with high self-regulation. Now, in a new study published in the journal…
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Researchers have discovered a brain process common to sleep and aging in research that could pave the way for new treatments for insomnia. The scientists from Oxford University report how oxidative stress leads to sleep. Oxidative stress is also believed to be a reason why we age and is also a cause of degenerative diseases.  The…
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Insufficient sleep is a health concern, and its effects reach beyond physical health. According to new research, one side-effect of not getting enough shut-eye is that it makes you less likely to be a good citizen. While a lack of sleep is known to negatively impact some types of behaviors, relatively little has been known…
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You may think that making sure you get plenty of sleep is enough, but new research shows that HOW you sleep is also important.  The study, conducted at the University of Rochester Medical Center (URMC), shows how the depth of sleep can impact our brain’s ability to efficiently wash away waste and toxic proteins. Because…
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A new study has identified 76 new gene regions associated with sleep duration. The study by a team that recently reported finding gene sites associated with insomnia risk and chronotype – the tendency to be an early riser or a ‘night owl.’ The study was conducted by investigators from Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH) and the University of Exeter Medical…
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It seems that napping may do more than just reboot our energy level and improve our mood. New research found that people who took advantage of a midday snooze were more likely to have a noticeable drop in blood pressure compared with those who didn’t nap. Overall, taking a nap during the day was associated…
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