Sleep News and Research

Latest Sleep News and Research

Study investigates possible link between sleep apnea and autoimmune diseases

New research by University of Georgia scientists sheds light on why people with obstructive sleep apnea may have associated autoimmune disorders. The results could lead to better approaches to treatment and possibly new drug therapies.

17 Nov 2020

Alcohol consumption before bedtime can impact quality of sleep

Think twice before drinking that holiday nightcap. Sure, that late-night cocktail or final glass of wine or beer before bed may help you feel sleepy, but it won't guarantee a good night's rest.

17 Nov 2020

Modifiable risk factors in the first 1000 days of life predict higher adiposity and cardiometabolic risk

Early life risk factors in the first 1000 days cumulatively predict higher obesity and cardiometabolic risk in early adolescence, according to new research led by the Harvard Pilgrim Health Care Institute.

16 Nov 2020

Long-term care workers, grieving and under siege, brace for COVID’s next round

In the middle of the night, Stefania Silvestri lies in bed remembering her elderly patients' cries.

16 Nov 2020

Homeless shelters grapple with COVID safety as cold creeps in

Ben Barnes has slept in abandoned buildings, hallways and alleys. For the past year or so, he's been staying at the city's largest homeless shelter, Pacific Garden Mission, in the shadows of the famous skyline.

16 Nov 2020

Study investigates sleep-wake cycles of infants

As almost any new parent will attest, the issue of infant sleep can be a nightmare. But the challenges and consequential health effects of infant sleep problems may, like so many other health disparities, disproportionately affect families of different racial/ethnic backgrounds and household socioeconomic statuses.

16 Nov 2020

Hearing test could help identify newborns with autism

For years, researchers have known through numerous studies that hearing and other sensory systems of adults and children who have autism differ from children or adults without autism.

12 Nov 2020

VCU physician receives CHEST Foundation/ATS Research Grant in COVID and Diversity

Peter Jackson, MD, of Virginia Commonwealth University, has been named the first recipient of the CHEST Foundation/ATS Research Grant in COVID and Diversity.

11 Nov 2020

Children's sleep behaviors linked to gray matter volume with implications for academic performance, IQ

Children who sleep better (that is, those who wake up less during night) and those who wake up earlier have more grey matter in their brains (specifically, in eight cortical regions and in the hippocampus), perform better academically, and have a higher level of intelligence (IQ).

11 Nov 2020

Severe obstructive sleep apnea linked to increased risk of dementia

A new study by Monash University has found that obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) has been linked to an increased risk of dementia.

11 Nov 2020

Study: Sleep loss hijacks the brain's ability to unlearn fear-related memories

Sleep is crucial for consolidating our memories, and sleep deprivation has long been known to interfere with learning and memory.

11 Nov 2020

“Molecular volume knob” in the brain helps with learning, memory

A "molecular volume knob" regulating electrical signals in the brain helps with learning and memory, according to a Dartmouth study.

11 Nov 2020

Surgery studies show progress, opportunity to decrease opioid prescribing

Having surgery means placing complete trust in a team of professionals, and counting on them to fix what's wrong while keeping surgical risks as low as possible.

11 Nov 2020

Loneliness levels highest in the 20s and lowest in the 60s, finds study

Loneliness is a prevalent and serious public health problem impacting health, well-being and longevity. Seeking to develop effective interventions, researchers at University of California San Diego School of Medicine examined the psychological and environmental factors that lead to patterns of loneliness in different age groups.

10 Nov 2020

Research examines changes in physical activity, sitting and sleep during Scotland's COVID lockdown

A new study by researchers at the University of Strathclyde, published as a preprint on the medRxiv* server, examined changes in 24-hour movement behaviors across three designated period blocks: from 1) pre-lockdown (T1) to the 1st UK national lockdown (T2); and 2) first UK national lockdown to initial easing of lockdown (T3).

10 Nov 2020

Strenuous jobs increase the likelihood of having a baby with fetal macrosomia

For the first time, researchers have attributed an understudied adverse fetal outcome to the strenuousness of an expectant mother's job.

10 Nov 2020

Heart rate data from wearable devices helps predict SARS-CoV-2 infection

A team of scientists from the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai in the United States has developed a digital platform to identify severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection and related symptoms in healthcare personnel.

9 Nov 2020

Melatonin may be a viable treatment option for COVID-19, study suggests

Results from a new Cleveland Clinic-led study suggest that melatonin, a hormone that regulates the sleep-wake cycle and is commonly used as an over-the-counter sleep aid, may be a viable treatment option for COVID-19.

9 Nov 2020

Home-visiting intervention puts Native American infants on a healthier growth trajectory

Lessons on healthy feeding practices delivered to young mothers through a brief home-visiting intervention put Native American infants on a healthier growth trajectory, lowering their risks for obesity, according to a study from researchers at the Johns Hopkins Center for American Indian Health at the Bloomberg School of Public Health.

9 Nov 2020

UMass Lowell researcher to improve workplace health and safety for correctional workers

The U.S. Department of Justice has tapped the expertise of a UMass Lowell researcher to create a program to improve workplace health and safety for the country's 500,000 correctional officers and staff, a population data shows are at high risk for on-the-job injury, stress, obesity and premature death.

9 Nov 2020