Skimping on sleep, followed by “catch-up” days with long snoozes, is tied to worse cognition — both in attention and creativity — in young adults, in particular those tackling major projects, Baylor University researchers have found. “The more variability they showed in their night-to-night sleep, the worse their cognition declined across the week,” said study…
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Every animal needs sleep … including humans. The thing is, however, scientists don’t know why. A group of researchers from Washington State University took a big step toward understanding more, when they identified a gene that is involved in the quality of sleep. “Sleep must be serving some important function,” said Jason Gerstner, assistant research…
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Anyone who has attended college knows about the dreaded 8 a.m. class. You may have tried to avoid it, but many times scheduling worked out that you had to get up very early and get into class bleary-eyed. A new study confirms what just about anyone in those classes knew already — it’s better to…
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An analysis of 35 popular smartphone-based sleep apps finds that while most help users set sleep-related goals and track and manage their sleep, few make use of other methods known to help the chronically sleep-deprived. Many of the apps soothe users with nature sounds, calming music, colors and images. Some also offer white noise, guided…
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As people get older, they sleep less and wake up more frequently, and the elderly are paying a price for that lack of good rest. A recent review of scientific literature found that aging adults may lose their ability to produce deep, restorative sleep, which leads to both mental and physical problems. “Sleep changes with aging,…
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People with type 2 diabetes have poorer control over their blood glucose levels when they work the night shift compared with those who work in the daytime or are unemployed, a new study finds. The study results showed that poor long-term glycemic, or blood sugar, control, was independent of what workers ate or any sleep…
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We’ve all known people who are night owls, or perhaps you’re even of them yourself. Night owls find it extremely hard to get up early in the morning, and are most awake at times when most people are asleep. Now science has an explanation for some of these individuals. Some people stay up late…
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What’s the consequence of one night of bad sleep? Obviously you’ll be tired at work the next day, and maybe even a little short with your spouse and co-workers. But, new research says it goes deeper than that — it can make you unlikely to ignore impulses to be rude and dishonest. A study conducted…
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Animals can pass the damaging effects of nighttime light exposure to their offspring, a new study has found, adding to a growing body of evidence that there’s a health cost to our increasingly illuminated nights. Hamster pups are born with weakened immune systems and impaired endocrine activity when their parents don’t receive a natural mix…
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Can’t sleep? Your sleep problems may be improved if you try an Indian herb, Ashwagandha. Researchers in the sleep institute in Japan found that an active component of Ashwagandha leaves significantly induces sleep. Ashwagandha (Withania somnifera) is a central herb in Ayurveda, the traditional home medicine native to India. As signified by its Latin name…
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