Sleep

Sleep is a physiological behavior that is common in all animal species. It forms around one third of a human life. It is not known clearly the exact functions of sleep but it seems to be essential for survival as prolonged sleep deprivation leads to severe physical impairment followed by cognitive loss and eventually death.

What is Sleep?

Role of Sleep in Memory Consolidation

Tips on Getting to Sleep

A Guide to Healthy Sleep Positions

Could Humans Ever Hibernate?

The DEC2 Gene and Sleep

The Health Risks of Oversleeping

Importance of Sleep

Causes of Nocturnal Awakenings

How Can Mindfulness Meditation Improve Sleep?

Sleep and Hormones

Why Do We Sleep?

See more featured articles »

How Does Sleep Affect Your Immunity?

Sleep and Yoga

Stimulants and Sleep

Can too much sleep be dangerous?

Circadian Rhythm Sleep Disorders

How Does Pain Affect Your Sleep?

Delayed Sleep Phase Disorder (DSPD) Management

Health Effects of Poor Sleep - Quantity and Quality

Management of Sleep Deprivation

Effect of Sleep on Your Emotions

Neuroscience of Sleep

What is the Circadian Rhythm?

Regulation of Sleep

How Can Sleep Affect Men's Health?

Spoon Test for Sleep Deprivation

Nutritional Effects on Sleep

Does Your Alarm Sound Affect Your Mood?

How Long should my Child Sleep for?

Ghrelin and Sleep

Sleep Deprivation - Inadequate Quantity of Sleep

The Importance of Having a Good Night’s Sleep

What is Sleep Regression?

A Guide to Managing Sleep Disorders

Hypnotics and Sleep

History of Sleep

REM Sleep Activity

Shift Work Sleep Disorder

Is Daytime Napping in Adults Good or Bad?

Why Do We Dream?

Promoting Sounder Sleep in Older Adults

How to Catch up on Lost Sleep

What Does Polysomnography Involve?

How Long Should My Teenager Sleep For?

Brain Activity During Sleep

Types of Sleep Disorders

Effects of Sleep Deprivation

Sleep Hygiene

Causes of Sleep Deprivation

How Much Sleep do People Need?

Difference Between Nightmares and Night Terrors

Stages of Sleep

Function of Sleep

What is Delayed Sleep Phase Disorder (DSPD)?

Sleep Onset Mechanics: Understanding the Transition from Wakefulness to Slumber

What is the Role of Melatonin in Sleep Regulation?

Latest Sleep News and Research

How the gut microbiome links obesity to colorectal cancer

The gut microbiome serves as both a biomarker and therapeutic target in diseases like obesity, metabolic syndrome, and colorectal cancer.

28 Nov 2025

Music therapy speeds anesthesia recovery in colorectal surgery

Integrating music therapy with anesthesia recovery care enhances recovery in colorectal cancer patients, reducing complications and stabilizing vital signs.

28 Nov 2025

Chronic drinking weakens the blood-brain barrier through the gut

Chronic alcohol consumption disrupts the blood-brain barrier, but Faecalibacterium prausnitzii shows promise in repairing this damage and improving cognition.

27 Nov 2025

Tai chi offers comparable benefits to CBT for chronic insomnia

Tai chi, a form of mind-body exercise widely practiced in Chinese communities, has similar benefits to talking therapy for middle aged and older people with chronic insomnia, finds a trial from Hong Kong published by The BMJ today.

26 Nov 2025

Shared genetic roots between delirium and Alzheimer’s disease

This study reveals genetic and proteomic risk factors for delirium, offering insights into its etiology and potential biomarkers for prediction and prevention.

26 Nov 2025

African statisticians provide new insights into malaria prevention

University of the Witwatersrand - Edson Mwebesa, Fellow at the Wits-based Sub-Saharan Africa Advanced Consortium for Biostatistics (SSACAB), knows children who died from late-diagnosed malaria. His research has also revealed that malaria is more prevalent in pregnant Ugandan women than in any other population.

25 Nov 2025

Poor lung gas exchange may help explain lingering brain symptoms in Long COVID

This study found that people with Long COVID more than two years after infection showed normal lung tests and brain structure, yet reported significant sleep and cognitive symptoms. Subtle correlations revealed that poorer lung gas exchange was linked with higher brain perfusion, worse sleep, and weaker executive function, suggesting a possible lung–brain connection.

25 Nov 2025

Daily walking patterns help flag early Parkinson’s signs in large UK study

Accelerometer data from nearly 95,000 adults show that higher daily step counts predict lower short-term Parkinson’s disease risk. But as follow-up extends, the association fades, indicating that reduced steps are more likely an early marker than a cause.

25 Nov 2025

Genetic factors behind impulsive choices tied to metabolic and mental health

Researchers from University of California San Diego have identified 11 genetic regions linked to delay discounting - the tendency to prefer smaller, immediate rewards over larger, delayed ones - shedding new light on how impulsive decision-making relates to both mental and physical health.

24 Nov 2025

New study links untreated sleep apnea to higher Parkinson’s disease risk

New research reveals that people with untreated obstructive sleep apnea have a higher risk of developing Parkinson's disease. However, they can significantly reduce the risk by improving the quality of their sleep by using continuous positive airway pressure, or CPAP.

24 Nov 2025

Does coffee truly boost memory and focus or is it all hype?

Coffee’s bioactive compounds, especially caffeine, show potential cognitive, neuroprotective, and neuroplasticity benefits across animal and human studies. However, most findings are observational, mechanisms remain uncertain, and optimal intake is still unclear.

23 Nov 2025

Masturbation could improve mood and sleep during menopause

This study found that about one in five perimenopausal and postmenopausal women experienced measurable symptom relief from masturbation, particularly for sleep and mood. Nearly half said they would consider using it for symptom relief if their doctor recommended it, although many had never discussed it with a clinician.

23 Nov 2025

Blue light from tablets may not disrupt sleep in young children

The blue light that tablets emit is believed to make sleep less restful. However, an experimental study with young children was unable to confirm this assumption.

21 Nov 2025

Ultraprocessed diets affect teens and young adults differently

A study reveals that adolescents consume more calories on ultraprocessed diets, highlighting a critical vulnerability in modern food environments.

21 Nov 2025

Oral GLP-1 pill shows strong weight loss and blood sugar benefits in adults with diabetes

A new oral GLP-1 medication can help adults with obesity and Type 2 diabetes lose more weight and improve their blood sugar levels compared to a placebo, according to findings from the ATTAIN-2 trial led by a UTHealth Houston researcher.

20 Nov 2025

Nationwide study maps epilepsy incidence rates among older adults in the United States

A first-of-its-kind nationwide study has mapped epilepsy incidence rates among older adults in the United States and identified key social and environmental factors associated with the neurological condition.

20 Nov 2025

Midlife exercise cuts dementia risk by up to 45 percent, new study shows

Higher physical activity in midlife and late life is linked to a substantially lower risk of all-cause and Alzheimer’s dementia. Midlife benefits are strongest for moderate or heavy activity, while late-life activity is protective across all intensity levels.

20 Nov 2025

Study shows how ketogenic eating improves hormonal balance in PCOS

The very low-carbohydrate ketogenic diet leads to meaningful reductions in weight, visceral adiposity, insulin resistance, and androgen excess in women with PCOS based on pooled randomized trials. Benefits appear consistent across studies, though high heterogeneity, short durations, and limited safety data highlight the need for longer-term comparative research.

19 Nov 2025

Coffee protects the brain, metabolism, and immunity at the molecular level

This review uncovers the molecular networks of coffee's compounds, showcasing their antioxidant and neuroprotective effects on immunity and metabolism.

19 Nov 2025

People with both sleep apnea and insomnia more likely to have high blood pressure

The likelihood of high blood pressure is clearly higher among people who have both sleep apnea and insomnia. This is shown by a study from the University of Gothenburg.

18 Nov 2025