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Sleep medicine news

Newly identified molecule could help regulate sleep

Sleep is known to be essential for survival, as it allows both humans and other animals to rest, while the brain consolidates memories and clears out metabolic waste products. For many people worldwide, however, falling asleep ...

Fecal microbe transplantation may improve sleep in people with chronic insomnia

In a randomized clinical trial published in the Journal of Internal Medicine, ingesting capsules containing fecal microbes from healthy donors helped treat symptoms of insomnia.

How mental health, environment shape pregnancy sleep

Nearly half of pregnant women in the United States report poor sleep quality, which has been associated with gestational diabetes and high blood pressure during pregnancy. A new study led by researchers at Washington University ...

Sleep disorders don't just exhaust you, they change your brain

Sleep disorders may do more than leave people feeling tired. New research from Florida International University shows that sleep disorders are associated with structural changes in brain regions involved in attention, motivation ...

Secondhand smoke independently disrupts children's sleep

A new study from Ben-Gurion University of the Negev (BGU) has found that children exposed to secondhand smoke have significantly poorer sleep quality and greater sleep fragmentation, independent of the severity of their breathing ...

Brighter days linked to better sleep, study finds

A new study led by University of Manchester scientists has revealed that brighter, more consistent daytime light exposure could be key to earlier bedtimes, better-quality sleep and deeper rest. The research throws new light ...

Losing sleep is bad for individuals. Communities, too?

Large groups of people often lose sleep because of big events like a record 18-inning World Series game or a contested election night, or sudden crises like a flood, pandemic or war. In a new paper published in Clocks & Sleep, ...

How can you be tired yet wired? Blame your stone‑age brain

The clock reads 2:13 a.m. You are exhausted. Your eyes ache, your body feels heavy, and the alarm is already beginning to loom over the night, yet your brain refuses to let go. Instead, thoughts arrive in waves. Did you send ...

Get better sleep with ultrasound patch that boosts REM rest

A University of Texas at Austin-led team of researchers has developed a noninvasive patch that boosts REM sleep in real-world trials without surgery or medication. The technology, called NEUSLeeP, is a soft, wearable device ...

How skimping on sleep leads to weight gain

People who shortened their sleep by around 80 minutes a night for six weeks gained weight—1 pound on average—and were more sedentary, researchers at Columbia University Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons found.