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?

Types of Sleep Disorders

Promoting Sounder Sleep in Older Adults

Sleep Deprivation - Inadequate Quantity of Sleep

Causes of Sleep Deprivation

How Long Should My Teenager Sleep For?

Management of Sleep Deprivation

REM Sleep Activity

Brain Activity During Sleep

Stages of Sleep

Regulation of Sleep

Function of Sleep

See more featured articles »

Nutritional Effects on Sleep

Effects of Sleep Deprivation

Neuroscience of Sleep

Stimulants and Sleep

Hypnotics and Sleep

Shift Work Sleep Disorder

What is Delayed Sleep Phase Disorder (DSPD)?

Delayed Sleep Phase Disorder (DSPD) Management

What is the Circadian Rhythm?

Circadian Rhythm Sleep Disorders

What Does Polysomnography Involve?

How Long should my Child Sleep for?

Health Effects of Poor Sleep - Quantity and Quality

How to Catch up on Lost Sleep

Why Do We Sleep?

Sleep Hygiene

Ghrelin and Sleep

Spoon Test for Sleep Deprivation

Can too much sleep be dangerous?

Causes of Nocturnal Awakenings

History of Sleep

Is Daytime Napping in Adults Good or Bad?

Tips on Getting to Sleep

The DEC2 Gene and Sleep

Importance of Sleep

Difference Between Nightmares and Night Terrors

How Does Sleep Affect Your Immunity?

How Does Pain Affect Your Sleep?

Latest Sleep News and Research

Fitness picture books help youth with autism to exercise more frequently

While physical activity is important for everyone, research has shown people with developmental disabilities do not exercise as often as their typically developed peers.

27 Feb 2021

Study: Battery storage can help protect medically vulnerable households

Extreme weather driven by climate change is making power outages more commonplace even as the need for electricity-dependent home health equipment grows.

25 Feb 2021

Study shows reliability and robustness of injectable anti-obesity medication

A second study of the injectable anti-obesity medication, semaglutide, has confirmed the large weight losses reported in a study earlier this month, establishing the reliability and robustness of this new drug.

24 Feb 2021

A new combination therapy for treating rare, fatal Sanfilippo syndrome in children

A study aiming to develop a new therapeutic technique could bring a revolution in our approach to treating rare, fatal Sanfilippo syndrome, a disorder that affects children as young as 2 years old and leads to childhood dementia and premature death.

24 Feb 2021

TBE patients continue to be affected by long-term problems

Impaired memory, reduced motivation, and declining motor skills. These are some of the problems that may persist several years after people contract tick-borne encephalitis, a University of Gothenburg thesis shows.

23 Feb 2021

University of Missouri engineers plan to advance the commercial market for wearable bioelectronics

One day, a wearable, bioelectronic device could wirelessly transmit a person's vital signs -- potentially providing critical information for early detection of health issues such as COVID-19 or heart disease -- to a healthcare provider, eliminating the need for an in-person visit while also saving lives.

23 Feb 2021

Toddler sleep habits could help explain the association between household poverty and BMI

Establishing a consistent sleep schedule for a toddler can be one of the most challenging aspects of child rearing, but it also may be one of the most important.

22 Feb 2021

Neurons activated by visual stimulus keep more active during subsequent sleep, study shows

When you slip into sleep, it's easy to imagine that your brain shuts down, but University of Michigan research suggests that groups of neurons activated during prior learning keep humming, tattooing memories into your brain.

22 Feb 2021

Material hardship linked to poor mental and physical health in young adults

As the United States approaches the one-year anniversary of the start of COVID-19 lockdowns, a new study by researchers from Syracuse University and the University of Texas at San Antonio shows that material hardship - difficulty paying for food, bills and healthcare - is taking a toll on the mental and physical health of young adults.

22 Feb 2021

Loneliness associated with increased risk of internet addiction among adolescents

Loneliness is a risk factor associated with adolescents being drawn into compulsive internet use. The risk of compulsive use has grown in the coronavirus pandemic: loneliness has become increasingly prevalent among adolescents, who spend longer and longer periods of time online.

22 Feb 2021

Rest during holidays has a restorative effect on DNA changes in shift workers with sleep disorder

Long-term sleep deprivation is detrimental to health, increasing the risk of psychiatric and somatic disorders, such as depression and cardiovascular diseases.

22 Feb 2021

Survey reveals high prevalence of depression and anxiety in college students

A survey by a Boston University researcher of nearly 33,000 college students across the country reveals the prevalence of depression and anxiety in young people continues to increase, now reaching its highest levels, a sign of the mounting stress factors due to the coronavirus pandemic, political unrest, and systemic racism and inequality.

20 Feb 2021

UNH's new report on child maltreatment shows mixed trends

A new report from the University of New Hampshire's Crimes against Children Research Center, using data collected by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, showed a marked increase in the share of child maltreatment cases resulting in fatalities as well as a decline in cases of physical abuse and neglect in 2019.

19 Feb 2021

Person in the midst of vivid dream can engage in real-time communication

Dreams take us to what feels like a different reality. They also happen while we're fast asleep. So, you might not expect that a person in the midst of a vivid dream would be able to perceive questions and provide answers to them.

19 Feb 2021

How have COVID-19 pandemic school closures impacted the health of children globally?

A new study by researchers in the US and the UK explores the damage caused by school closures to educational progress, health, and well-being in children and young people globally.

18 Feb 2021

Researchers test the efficacy of commercial sleep trackers

Wearable sleep tracking devices - from Fitbit to Apple Watch to never-heard-of brands stashed away in the electronics clearance bin - have infiltrated the market at a rapid pace in recent years.

18 Feb 2021

Timing of physical activity associated with cardiovascular health for individuals with Type 2 diabetes

Numerous studies have demonstrated the role of physical activity in improving heart health for patients with type 2 diabetes. But whether exercising at a certain time of the day promises an added health bonus for this population is still largely unknown.

17 Feb 2021

$Study investigates fracture-associated drug use among long-term care residents$

Study investigates fracture-associated drug use among long-term care residents

Findings from a new Geisel-led study, published in the Journal of General Internal Medicine, reveal that there is substantial variation across different regions of the country in the intensity of fracture-associated drug (FAD) use among long-term care facility residents, and that areas with greater use of these prescription drugs experience higher hip fracture rates.

17 Feb 2021

Lewy body dementia may share similar genetic profiles with Alzheimer's disease

In a study led by National Institutes of Health (NIH) researchers, scientists found that five genes may play a critical role in determining whether a person will suffer from Lewy body dementia, a devastating disorder that riddles the brain with clumps of abnormal protein deposits called Lewy bodies.

17 Feb 2021

CPAP therapy increases physical activity in sleep apnea patients with a history of heart disease

A new study found that treating obstructive sleep apnea with CPAP therapy increased self-reported physical activity in adults with a history of heart disease.

16 Feb 2021