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?

Why Do We Sleep?

The DEC2 Gene and Sleep

Stimulants and Sleep

Sleep Deprivation - Inadequate Quantity of Sleep

Circadian Rhythm Sleep Disorders

A Guide to Healthy Sleep Positions

How Long Should My Teenager Sleep For?

Sleep Hygiene

Ghrelin and Sleep

Types of Sleep Disorders

The Health Risks of Oversleeping

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What is Sleep Regression?

Spoon Test for Sleep Deprivation

How Does Sleep Affect Your Immunity?

A Guide to Managing Sleep Disorders

Sleep Onset Mechanics: Understanding the Transition from Wakefulness to Slumber

Hypnotics and Sleep

Effect of Sleep on Your Emotions

Nutritional Effects on Sleep

What Does Polysomnography Involve?

Could Humans Ever Hibernate?

Role of Sleep in Memory Consolidation

How Long should my Child Sleep for?

What is the Circadian Rhythm?

Why Do We Dream?

Stages of Sleep

Regulation of Sleep

How Can Sleep Affect Men's Health?

History of Sleep

Importance of Sleep

What is the Role of Melatonin in Sleep Regulation?

Sleep and Hormones

Tips on Getting to Sleep

Health Effects of Poor Sleep - Quantity and Quality

Shift Work Sleep Disorder

Sleep and Yoga

Effects of Sleep Deprivation

Management of Sleep Deprivation

How Does Pain Affect Your Sleep?

Difference Between Nightmares and Night Terrors

Function of Sleep

What is Delayed Sleep Phase Disorder (DSPD)?

Can too much sleep be dangerous?

Promoting Sounder Sleep in Older Adults

The Importance of Having a Good Night’s Sleep

Causes of Sleep Deprivation

Causes of Nocturnal Awakenings

How to Catch up on Lost Sleep

How Much Sleep do People Need?

Is Daytime Napping in Adults Good or Bad?

REM Sleep Activity

Brain Activity During Sleep

Does Your Alarm Sound Affect Your Mood?

Neuroscience of Sleep

How Can Mindfulness Meditation Improve Sleep?

Delayed Sleep Phase Disorder (DSPD) Management

Latest Sleep News and Research

Pre-workout supplement use linked to dangerously short sleep in young people

A new study from the Canadian Study of Adolescent Behaviors reveals that adolescents and young adults who use pre-workout dietary supplements, such as Bang!, Jack3D, and C4, are significantly more likely to report dangerously short sleep durations.

2 Dec 2025

Untreated restless legs syndrome may increase Parkinson's disease risk

Restless legs syndrome (RLS) is a common neurological sleep disorder characterized by an uncontrollable urge to move the legs, often worsening at night.

2 Dec 2025

They need a ventilator to stay alive. Getting one can be a nightmare.

On vacation in Mexico last year, Michael DiPlacido passed out twice while scuba diving and again in his hotel. Back in St. Louis, doctors diagnosed him with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, or ALS, an incurable disease that often requires mechanical ventilation.

2 Dec 2025

Bedtime stress behaviors connect financial strain to declining sleep health

Long before the alarm sounds, many Americans lose quality rest to the quiet worries that surface after dark - whether about bills, the next paycheck or job stability. New research from Rice University shows those bedtime stress moments aren't just uncomfortable; they're part of a measurable pathway connecting economic stress to poor sleep.

1 Dec 2025

New evidence supports ablation for high-risk patients with AFib and sleep apnea

Obstructive sleep apnea and atrial fibrillation are two conditions that share a potentially deadly link. Having one increases the odds of developing the other, and together, the breathing difficulties of sleep apnea combined with the irregular heartbeat of atrial fibrillation (AFib) can result in life-threatening cardiovascular risks.

1 Dec 2025

Circadian rhythms can influence outcomes related to influenza infections

Researchers at Children's Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP) found that circadian rhythms – the biological clocks of the body – can influence outcomes related to influenza infections, providing clinicians with insight about how biological processes can be used to optimize care for critically ill patients with respiratory viral infections.

1 Dec 2025

Older women with comorbid insomnia and sleep apnea show worse memory performance

New research among older adults with sleep apnea reveals that verbal memory performance is significantly worse in women - but not in men - who also have insomnia.

1 Dec 2025

Treating sleep apnea can lower Parkinson’s disease risk

Researchers report that obstructive sleep apnea increases the risk of Parkinson’s disease however, this risk can be attenuated by positive airway pressure.

1 Dec 2025

Regular exercise linked to better sleep and fewer ADHD symptoms

Regular exercise has been shown to enhance quality of life, promote better sleep, and reduce ADHD symptoms - according to a recent study by örebro University.

1 Dec 2025

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