Sleep Info

A new survey of 1,300 Americans found that many get their information about sleep disorders from television and movies, which has led to widespread misconceptions. Although 83% of respondents had heard of narcolepsy, only 32% said that they were familiar with the symptoms. However, that familiarity did not always indicate that their knowledge was accurate:…
Read more »

The scientists who identified the two known human genes that promote “natural short sleep” — nightly sleep that lasts just four to six hours but leaves people feeling well-rested — have now discovered a third, and it has some side benefits. Researchers at University of California San Francisco say that third gene is the first…
Read more »

Sleep disturbances among Hispanics may increase their risk of cognitive impairment and Alzheimer’s disease, according to a new study led by a neurologist and sleep expert. “Insomnia, and prolonged sleep duration appear to be linked to a decline in neurocognitive functioning that can precede the onset of Alzheimer’s disease or other dementias,” said Alberto R….
Read more »

Military veterans with post-traumatic stress disorder or concussion symptoms suffer from a thrashing form of sleep behavior at a rate that is far higher than the general population.  The study was conducted by researchers at the VA Portland Health Care System and Oregon Health & Science University.  They say they next want to probe whether…
Read more »

African-American and other ethnically diverse mothers know the value of a good night’s sleep, but they and their young children are at risk for developing sleep problems if they live in urban poverty, a new study finds. The study, conducted at Rutgers University, looked at the sleeping patterns of 32 women and their children ages,…
Read more »

When you’re sleep deprived, you tend to reach for doughnuts, fries and pizza. A new Northwestern Medicine study has figured out why you crave more calorie-dense, high-fat foods after a sleepless night — and how to help thwart those unhealthy choices. Blame it on your nose – or olfactory system — which is affected in…
Read more »

It’s not going out on a limb to say all moms, at some point or another (or all of the time) are sleep deprived.  Unfortunately, young children don’t always sleep the way we hope they will.  New research shows that bees have the solution.  They hardly sleep when taking care of young ones, and it…
Read more »

For many people, seasonal allergies begin and end in the spring.  At that time, pollen is all over your car and you’re miserable for a few weeks before it all ends.  For others, though, each season brings a different challenge, and autumn is almost as bad as spring. According to WebMD, “fall allergy triggers are…
Read more »

It may seem obvious that sleep is an important key to succeeding in college, but a new study shows just how critical it really is. Two MIT professors found a strong relationship not just between students’ grades and how much sleep they’re getting, but also what time students go to bed, and how often they…
Read more »

A new and exceptionally extensive worldwide study on sleep looked at nearly a quarter of a million nights of sleep among sleepers ranging between 16 and 30 years of age, and came away with some very interesting findings. The researchers indicate that there are differences in the duration and timing of sleep by age, geographical…
Read more »