Sleep News and Research

Latest Sleep News and Research

Poor lifestyle habits nearly double your chance of developing AFib

A large Framingham Heart Study analysis found that adults with poor cardiovascular health scores on the Life’s Essential 8 were nearly twice as likely to develop atrial fibrillation as those with ideal scores. Maintaining healthy lifestyle habits, especially optimal BMI, blood pressure, and glucose, may help reduce AF risk.

2 Jul 2025

Looking for a natural way to lower blood pressure? Whole grains might be the answer

A new meta-analysis of prospective cohort studies found that higher whole grain intake is linked to a significantly lower risk of developing hypertension, with a 26% risk reduction observed between highest and lowest intake groups. In contrast, refined grain consumption showed no clear association with hypertension risk.

2 Jul 2025

Targeting a key enzyme could reverse early Parkinson's effects

Putting the brakes on an enzyme might rescue neurons that are dying due to a type of Parkinson's disease that's caused by a single genetic mutation, according to a new Stanford Medicine-led study conducted in mice.

2 Jul 2025

New brain scan tool predicts aging speed and dementia risk

Any high school reunion is a sharp reminder that some people age more gracefully than others. Some enter their older years still physically spry and mentally sharp. Others start feeling frail or forgetful much earlier in life than expected.

1 Jul 2025

Is lactose intolerance secretly stealing your restful sleep?

Researchers surveyed over 1,000 university students and found that lactose intolerance, especially when accompanied by gastrointestinal symptoms, is linked to more frequent nightmares and poor sleep. Only a small minority reported that food affected their dreams, highlighting a specific risk for those with food sensitivities.

1 Jul 2025

Why exercise is key for keeping slim after you quit smoking

Quitting smoking is linked to greater long-term waist circumference gain, but this effect may be due to shared genetics rather than quitting itself. Increased physical activity consistently helped limit waist expansion across all genetic backgrounds.

1 Jul 2025

Spaceflight exposes astronauts to hidden threats in their gut

This review highlights how the unique stressors of space travel, radiation, microgravity, and circadian disruption impact astronauts’ gut microbiomes, with potential consequences for their mood, cognition, and immunity. The authors call for targeted microbiome monitoring and dietary interventions to protect astronaut mental health on future missions.

1 Jul 2025

Epilepsy self-management program shows promising results

Epilepsy is among the most common neurological conditions, marked by unpredictable seizures, accidents and injuries, reduced quality of life, stigma and-in the worst case-premature death.

1 Jul 2025

Staying active reduces waist gain after you quit smoking

Investigating smoking cessation and waist circumference, this study highlights the role of leisure-time physical activity in managing abdominal obesity.

1 Jul 2025

N2 deep sleep powers your next aha moment, study reveals

A new study in PLOS Biology shows that deep N2 sleep, rather than light N1 sleep, dramatically boosts the likelihood of “aha” moments in a challenging perceptual task. The researchers also reveal that aperiodic brain activity during sleep best predicts who will gain insight after a nap.

30 Jun 2025

Early therapy for preschool depression shows long lasting benefits

Depression affects 1%-2% of children younger than 13 in the U.S. and can arise as early as age 3, but a specialized therapeutic intervention can help preschool-aged children find relief from this condition - with benefits lasting at least four years, according to a new study led by researchers at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis.

27 Jun 2025

Can your athletic past raise your risk for atrial fibrillation?

Elite retired rowers face a nearly threefold increased risk of atrial fibrillation compared to the general population, driven by a combination of long-term cardiac remodelling and underlying polygenic genetic susceptibility.

26 Jun 2025

Sleep patterns change with geography, seasons, and daily schedules

A new international study drawing on 73 million nights of data reveals that our sleep patterns are seriously shaped by the day of the week, the season, and where we live.

26 Jun 2025

Sleep deficiency worsens pain mechanisms in migraine sufferers

The mechanisms in the brain that should reduce pain don’t work as well in people with migraine when they haven’t gotten enough sleep.

26 Jun 2025

Sleep does not block brain response to screams and alarms

During sleep, the brain must achieve a delicate balance: disconnecting from sensory input to allow restorative functions, while remaining alert enough to wake if danger arises.

26 Jun 2025

Study shows polar winter challenges men’s muscle mass but not hormone levels

Researchers tracked testosterone, cortisol, and body composition in 23 men overwintering at Concordia Station, Antarctica. Despite extreme polar conditions, hormone levels remained stable, though nearly half the crew experienced significant muscle loss.

26 Jun 2025

Tirzepatide rewires appetite and slashes calorie intake in new obesity trial

A 6-week randomized trial found that tirzepatide significantly reduced energy intake, appetite, and cravings in adults with overweight or obesity, outperforming liraglutide and placebo. Brain imaging revealed that tirzepatide also lowered neural responses to high-fat, high-sugar food cues, offering mechanistic insight into its potent weight-loss effects.

25 Jun 2025

Higher BMI linked to slower concussion recovery in athletes and cadets

Clinicians who work with elite college athletes and military cadets should be aware of the association between higher body mass index (BMI) and worse concussion recovery, suggests new University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine research published today in Sports Medicine.

25 Jun 2025

Study finds nearly double risk of depression and anxiety in autoimmune patients

Living with an autoimmune disease is linked to a near doubling in the risk of persistent mental health issues, such as depression, generalised anxiety, and bipolar disorder, with these risks higher in women than in men, finds a large population-based UK study, published in the open access journal BMJ Mental Health.

25 Jun 2025

Researchers link brain waste clearance to early Alzheimer’s damage

A crucial link between the brain's cleaning system and deterioration of neurons associated with Alzheimer's disease has been discovered by University of Queensland researchers.

25 Jun 2025