Sleep Info

Neurons in the brain that produce the pleasure-signaling neurotransmitter dopamine also directly control the brain’s circadian center, or “body clock” – the area that regulates eating cycles, metabolism and waking/resting cycles – a key link that possibly affects the body’s ability to adapt to jet lag and rotating shift work, a new University of Virginia…
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Scientists exploring the brain for answers to certain sleep disorders may have been looking in the wrong place! A new study shows that a protein in the muscle can lessen the effects of sleep loss in mice, a surprising revelation that challenges the widely accepted notion that the brain controls all aspects of sleep. The…
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Sleep apnea is typically considered a condition affecting adults, but breathing problems during sleep in children are common and may affect their health and behavior. Through a comprehensive review of published research, investigators have identified important gaps in how and where children with this condition are best managed.  Disturbed sleep in children due to breathing problems…
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According to a new study, adults who have poor sleep patterns are more likely to be overweight and obese and have poorer metabolic health. The findings of the research from the University of Leeds in the UK showed that people who were sleeping on average around six hours a night had a waist measurement that was greater…
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We know that the blue light emitted from smartphones, tablets, a some computers and televisions can make it harder to go to sleep at night.  But, new research shows that it can also harm your sleep quality. The study, conducted by researchers at the University of Houston College of Optometry, found that blue light could…
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The number of people with obstructive sleep apnea has steadily increased over the past two decades, and while it can be fatal if untreated, scientists are also concerned about the impact on its victim’s overall health. The disorder, which causes a person to briefly stop breathing when asleep, affects over 100 million people globally and…
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The “Back to Sleep” program, touting appropriate sleeping positions and atmosphere for infants to avoid sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS), is working.  But, how can it be even more effective?  A new study thinks it has the answer. Among mothers of newborns, participation in a mobile health intervention that included receiving frequent educational emails or…
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There has been a lot of talk about early school start times for high schoolers, and how adolescence leads to the students’ bodies pushing them to stay up later.  But, what about middle schoolers?  A new study says the findings are very similar to their older counterparts. Researchers looked at nearly 33,000 middle school students…
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Having a good reason to get out of bed in the morning means you are more likely to sleep better at night with less sleep apnea and restless leg syndrome, reports a new study of older adults. This is the first study to show having a purpose in life specifically results in fewer sleep disturbances…
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It’s a standard line that humans sleep worse now than they did before most homes had electricity.  The logic goes that with electric lights to banish the darkness, the temptation to stay up late is increased.  According to a recent study, that’s just not so. In this study, researchers from the UK’s University of Surrey,…
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