Sleep News and Research

Latest Sleep News and Research

Exploring the science behind blank minds and conscious gaps

Mind blanking is a common experience with a wide variety of definitions ranging from feeling "drowsy" to "a complete absence of conscious awareness."

24 Apr 2025

Urgent action needed to protect children from extreme heat in schools and child care settings

As Canadians face increasingly intense and frequent heat waves, health, education and legal experts are sounding the alarm on a growing crisis: extreme heat in schools and child care settings due to the escalating effects of climate change.

24 Apr 2025

Researchers uncover link between heart attack severity and circadian rhythm

The molecular mechanism behind why heart attacks can vary in severity depending on the time of day has been uncovered by researchers at UTHealth Houston, potentially paving the way for innovative treatments that align with the natural circadian rhythm.

23 Apr 2025

Move more, think sharper: How physical activity boosts brain health in aging

A brisk walk, a splash of water aerobics, or even a light jog around the block – if your heart rate goes up then so too will your brain health according to new research from the University of South Australia.

23 Apr 2025

UCLA launches trial of wearable ADHD therapy for children exposed to alcohol in the womb

Researchers at UCLA Health are launching the first clinical trial to test whether a wearable device that delivers gentle nerve stimulation during sleep could ease ADHD symptoms in children with prenatal alcohol exposure.

22 Apr 2025

Children’s mattresses expose sleepers to hidden chemical risks, study finds

A new study tested 16 children’s mattresses and found widespread contamination with harmful semivolatile organic compounds (SVOCs) like plasticizers and flame retardants. These chemicals can migrate into the sleeping environment, increasing children's risk of allergic and neurobehavioral effects.

22 Apr 2025

Longer sleep and earlier bedtimes linked to better brain function in adolescents

Adolescents who sleep for longer – and from an earlier bedtime – than their peers tend to have improved brain function and perform better at cognitive tests, researchers from the UK and China have shown.

22 Apr 2025

Only 13% of French adults have optimal heart health, study finds

Researchers assessed the Life’s Essential 8 cardiovascular health (CVH) scores in over 190,000 French adults, revealing that only 13% had optimal CVH. Higher scores were associated with being younger, female, well-educated, and having healthier lifestyle factors.

21 Apr 2025

Millions in the US live without local air quality monitoring

In 2024, more than 50 million people in the United States lived in counties with no air-quality monitoring, according to a new study from researchers in the Penn State College of Health and Human Development.

21 Apr 2025

Machine learning helps decode exercise motivation and behavior

Sticking to an exercise routine is a challenge many people face. But a University of Mississippi research team is using machine learning to uncover what keeps individuals committed to their workouts.

17 Apr 2025

Study links insomnia and sleep medication to increased disability risk in older adults

Insomnia is a significant health and quality of life concern for older adults, with up to half of all adults over the age of 65 experiencing insomnia symptoms.

17 Apr 2025

The truth about apples, supplements and immunity - What brits get wrong about their health

New research has revealed some of Brits biggest misconceptions when it comes to immune health.

17 Apr 2025

Best time for asthma meds? Try 4 pm

Chronotherapy for asthma reveals that afternoon inhaled corticosteroids significantly improve lung function and reduce nighttime symptoms without side effects.

17 Apr 2025

Toxins in kids’ mattresses and bedding raise health concerns, study shows

A Canadian in-home study found that young children are significantly exposed to semi-volatile organic compounds (SVOCs) in their sleeping environments. Mattresses, bedding, and bedroom furnishings were identified as key sources, with several compounds exceeding expected levels.

17 Apr 2025

Digital technology use linked to lower risk of cognitive decline

As the first generation that interacted with digital technology reaches an age where dementia risks emerge, scientists have asked the question: Is there a correlation between digital technology use and an increased risk of dementia?

15 Apr 2025

Mid afternoon inhaler use may improve nighttime asthma control

A single daily preventer dose of inhaled corticosteroid (beclomethasone), taken mid afternoon, may be the best timing for effective asthma control as it suppresses the usual nocturnal worsening of symptoms more effectively than dosing regimens at other times of the day, suggest the results of a small clinical trial published in the journal Thorax.

15 Apr 2025

Stress and depression help explain intertwined alcohol, sleep problems

Insomnia and hazardous drinking are so closely intertwined that estimates suggest at least one-third, and as many as 91%, of people who have a hard time with sleep also misuse alcohol.

14 Apr 2025

Multidimensional sleep health linked to better cardiometabolic outcomes

Healthy sleep includes multiple components, such as number of hours of sleep per night, how long it takes to fall asleep, daytime functioning and self-reported sleep satisfaction, and addressing these different dimensions of sleep may help to reduce cardiometabolic health and related risk factors, according to a new American Heart Association scientific statement published today in Circulation: Cardiovascular Quality and Outcomes.

14 Apr 2025

A new approach to morning wakefulness using sunlight

Sleep is a necessary part of people's daily routine, but modern lifestyles and technology have ushered in an era of decreased rest time and subsequent fatigue.

14 Apr 2025