Sleep Info

A new study has given new insights into how sleep contributes to brain plasticity – the ability for our brain to change and reorganize itself.  The findings could pave the way for new ways to help people with learning and memory disorders. Researchers at the Humboldt and Charité Universities in Berlin, led by Dr. Julie…
Read more »

More than 3.2 million Americans suffer from schizophrenia.  In fact, about 100,000 people are newly diagnosed every year. The disease includes a wide range of symptoms including visual and auditory hallucinations, cognitive problems and motivational issues. A key issue with the disease, and one that gets less attention than other symptoms, is cognitive problems. Many…
Read more »

Sleep doesn’t come easily for nearly half of older Americans, and more than a third have resorted to some sort of medication to help them doze off at night, according to new results from the National Poll on Healthy Aging.  What’s just as bad is that most of them haven’t discussed their sleep troubles with…
Read more »

The world is in the grips of an epidemic of mass proportions.  It’s called sleep deprivation.  As many as 50% of us are getting well less than the seven to eight hours of sleep that are recommended each night.  How do we battle that?   If you’re unable to ensure that you get your full…
Read more »

Sleeping is a natural part of life, and it shouldn’t be hard to do.  Unfortunately that’s not always the case for humans, as sometimes our brains get in the way.  However, scientists have found one example in nature of an organism that doesn’t have a brain, but still sleeps. Researchers have determined that the upside-down…
Read more »

Poor sleep is both a risk factor and a common symptom of depression. But, not everyone who tosses and turns at night becomes depressed. Individuals whose brains are more attuned to rewards may be protected from the negative mental health effects of poor sleep, says a new study by Duke University neuroscientists. The researchers found…
Read more »

It turns out maybe having Fido or Fifi in your bedroom with you is okay, as long as the pup isn’t actually in your bed. It’s no secret that dogs love to sleep near their favorite humans.  And, in many cases, the feeling is mutual.    According to the American Veterinary Association, more than 40…
Read more »

Labor Day has come and gone and it’s time to get back into the fall routine.  The kids are back in school, the days are getting shorter, and it won’t be long before the leaves start changing colors.  Autumn has always been an ideal time to step back and look at your family’s needs. Getting…
Read more »

Swiss and UK researchers say their new study indicates that children more often sleep poorly if their mothers suffer from insomnia symptoms. This report comes from researchers from the University of Basel in Switzerland and the University of Warwick in England.  It grew from a study of 200 school-aged children and their parents. Sleep plays…
Read more »

It’s not news that stress can keep you from sleeping, or at least sleeping well.  But, a new study from a Japanese university says there’s a cure: sugarcane. The research group led by Mahesh K. Kaushik and Yoshihiro Urade of the University of Tsukuba, found that the substance octacosanol reduces stress and restores stress-affected sleep…
Read more »