by Rachael Herman The Surrey Sleep Research Center at the University of Surrey has performed a new study that shows shifts in the sleep-wake cycles (circadian rhythm) has a greater impact on women than it does on men. This study was published in the journal, Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS). The study…
New Research on How We Fall Asleep and Wake up
by Rachael Herman There are millions of people who have trouble with transitioning from an asleep to an awake state. Many find it difficult to fall and stay asleep throughout the night, as well as stay awake and alert throughout the day. The neurobiological mechanics of our sleep-wake cycle, or circadian rhythm, has remained largely…
Communication Networks in the Brain Linked to Insomnia
by Rachael Herman Published in the online version of the journal, Radiology, new research found brain white matter tract abnormalities in patients suffering from insomnia. These findings were made using a sophisticated MRI technique. Primary insomnia is characterized by an individual’s inability to fall or stay asleep at night for at least one month. This…
Parkinson’s Disease Worsened by Altered Circadian Rhythm
by Rachael Herman New research from the Lewis Katz School of Medicine at Temple University (LKSOM) suggests that irregular sleep-wake cycles and chronic insomnia may be risk factors of Parkinson’s disease. In this animal model study, circadian rhythm disturbances before the onset of Parkinson’s disease significantly worsened learning and motor deficits brought on by this…
Three Exciting Treatments for Insomnia
by Abimbola Farinde Insomnia is recognized as a difficulty with falling asleep or staying asleep.This condition affects approximately more than half of Americans. It is considered to be one of the most common sleep problems. It is reported that 30% of the population suffer from insomnia, with one and three people suffering from some type…
Risk of Metabolic Syndrome due to Daytime Sleepiness and Long Naps
by Rachael Herman A study scheduled to be reviewed at the 65th Annual Scientific Session for the American College of Cardiology reports that long naps and daytime sleepiness put an individual at higher risk of developing metabolic syndrome. Metabolic syndrome is characterized by a collection of conditions that put an individual at risk for developing…
Fast Facts on Narcolepsy
Here are some key points about narcolepsy. 40 million Americans each year suffer from chronic, long-term sleep disorders. Although highly prevalent, common sleep disorders are infrequently identified by primary care providers. Narcolepsy is the second leading cause of excessive daytime sleepiness after obstructive sleep apnea. The average time from the onset of narcolepsy to diagnosis…
Is Too Much Sleep Bad for You?
by Amabelle Equio Getting too much sleep may not be good for you, according to research. A recent study confirms that people sleeping beyond eight hours may have an increased cardiovascular related death rate. According to the lead author, Linn B. Strand, their research, which had 400,000 Taiwanese adult participants, revealed that people who slept…
Childhood Sleep and School Success
by Rachael Herman New research out of Australia’s Queensland University of Technology suggests that 1 in 3 children between newborn and five years of age have trouble sleeping, leading to behavioral and emotional problems in the school setting. It was found that children who can ease themselves back to sleep in their earliest years have…
New Study Links Obstructive Sleep Apnea to the Tongue
by Amabelle Equio A new study has linked obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) to the size of tonsils and the physical attributes of the tongue. Thikriat Al-Jewair, an orthodontic researcher from the University at Buffalo, discovered that oversized tonsils and tongue indentations along with obesity where the prevalent attributes among people who were diagnosed with OSA.…