Sleep

Sleep is a physiological behavior that is common in all animal species. It forms around one third of a human life. It is not known clearly the exact functions of sleep but it seems to be essential for survival as prolonged sleep deprivation leads to severe physical impairment followed by cognitive loss and eventually death.

What is Sleep?

Types of Sleep Disorders

How Can Mindfulness Meditation Improve Sleep?

Promoting Sounder Sleep in Older Adults

Sleep Deprivation - Inadequate Quantity of Sleep

Causes of Sleep Deprivation

Effect of Sleep on Your Emotions

How Long Should My Teenager Sleep For?

Management of Sleep Deprivation

REM Sleep Activity

Brain Activity During Sleep

Stages of Sleep

See more featured articles »

Regulation of Sleep

Function of Sleep

Nutritional Effects on Sleep

Effects of Sleep Deprivation

Neuroscience of Sleep

Stimulants and Sleep

Hypnotics and Sleep

Shift Work Sleep Disorder

What is Delayed Sleep Phase Disorder (DSPD)?

Delayed Sleep Phase Disorder (DSPD) Management

What is the Circadian Rhythm?

Circadian Rhythm Sleep Disorders

What Does Polysomnography Involve?

How Long should my Child Sleep for?

Health Effects of Poor Sleep - Quantity and Quality

How to Catch up on Lost Sleep

Why Do We Sleep?

Sleep Hygiene

Ghrelin and Sleep

Spoon Test for Sleep Deprivation

Can too much sleep be dangerous?

Causes of Nocturnal Awakenings

History of Sleep

Is Daytime Napping in Adults Good or Bad?

Tips on Getting to Sleep

The DEC2 Gene and Sleep

Importance of Sleep

Difference Between Nightmares and Night Terrors

How Does Sleep Affect Your Immunity?

How Does Pain Affect Your Sleep?

Why Do We Dream?

The Health Risks of Oversleeping

A Guide to Managing Sleep Disorders

The Importance of Having a Good Night’s Sleep

Sleep and Yoga

A Guide to Healthy Sleep Positions

How Can Sleep Affect Men's Health?

How Much Sleep do People Need?

Sleep and Hormones

Role of Sleep in Memory Consolidation

What is Sleep Regression?

Does Your Alarm Sound Affect Your Mood?

Could Humans Ever Hibernate?

Sleep Onset Mechanics: Understanding the Transition from Wakefulness to Slumber

What is the Role of Melatonin in Sleep Regulation?

Latest Sleep News and Research

New wearable device monitors brain waste clearance during sleep

A new device that monitors the waste-removal system of the brain may help to prevent Alzheimer's and other neurological diseases, according to a study published today in Nature Biomedical Engineering.

31 May 2025

Leading health organizations release guidance on nutrition support for GLP-1 obesity therapies

Four leading organizations in lifestyle medicine, obesity medicine, and nutrition-the American College of Lifestyle Medicine (ACLM), the American Society for Nutrition (ASN), the Obesity Medicine Association (OMA), and The Obesity Society (TOS)-have jointly released a clinical advisory titled "Nutritional Priorities to Support GLP-1 Therapy for Obesity."

31 May 2025

Self-employed women show fewer heart disease risk factors

New research finds that self-employed women have fewer risk factors for cardiovascular disease (CVD) compared to non-self-employed women, suggesting that the work environment may play a role in the development of risk factors that can lead to heart attacks.

29 May 2025

Traditional Kava rituals provide alternative pathway to PTSD recovery

Researchers reviewed pilot and qualitative evidence suggesting that combining traditional Pacific kava with talanoa dialogue may help reduce PTSD symptoms among Pacific veterans and first responders. A clinical trial is planned to formally evaluate the safety, efficacy, and cultural adaptability of this innovative, culturally grounded therapy.

29 May 2025

Researchers urge mental health inclusion in extreme heat planning

As climate change fuels more frequent and severe heat waves, governments worldwide have adopted Heat-Health Action Plans (HHAPs) to prevent illness and death from heat stroke, heart attacks, and other unwanted physical and mental health outcomes.

29 May 2025

Sleep disorders predict dementia risk years before diagnosis, study shows

Researchers analyzed health records from over 1 million people in Finland, Wales, and the UK to assess the long-term impact of sleep disorders on neurodegenerative diseases. They found that diagnosed sleep disorders can predict Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, and dementia risk up to 15 years before symptoms, regardless of genetic predisposition.

28 May 2025

Longer time in bed after stroke linked to poorer brain health

After a mild stroke or transient ischemic attack (TIA), people who spend more time in bed sleeping or trying to sleep may be more likely to have lower scores on tests of thinking and memory skills and changes in their brains that can lead to dementia or second strokes, according to a study published on May 28, 2025, online in Neurology, the medical journal of the American Academy of Neurology.

28 May 2025

Study sheds new light on how caffeine can impair sleep and memory recovery

Caffeine is not only found in coffee, but also in tea, chocolate, energy drinks and many soft drinks, making it one of the most widely consumed psychoactive substances in the world.

28 May 2025

Non-drug therapies show real promise in calming agitation in Alzheimer’s

Non-drug therapies like music and light outperform medications in managing dementia-related agitation, enhancing patient care and safety for caregivers.

28 May 2025

Circadian rhythms show seasonal sensitivity in modern humans

It’s tempting to think that, with our fancy electric lights and indoor bedrooms, humanity has evolved beyond the natural influence of sunlight when it comes to our sleep routines.

28 May 2025

Infant-directed singing shown to boost emotional health

Many parents know that infants love to be sung to; however, there is limited prior research to show the long-term effects on parental singing.

28 May 2025

Traditional South Asian medicinal plants show promise in addressing memory disorders

The growing global population of elderly individuals has led to a dramatic rise in chronic diseases, including neurocognitive disorders such as Alzheimer's disease.

27 May 2025

New clinical practice guideline advances surgical care for chronic rhinosinusitis

The American Academy of Otolaryngology–Head and Neck Surgery Foundation (AAO-HNSF) published the new Clinical Practice Guideline (CPG): Surgical Management of Chronic Rhinosinusitis today in Otolaryngology–Head and Neck Surgery.

27 May 2025

New mothers experience severe loss of uninterrupted sleep after birth

A new study to be presented at the SLEEP 2025 annual meeting quantifies the amount of sleep loss experienced by first-time mothers in the weeks after giving birth and is the first to identify the unique type of sleep disruption that persists throughout the first months of motherhood.

27 May 2025

Abdominal fat emerges as independent risk factor for psoriasis in women

Researchers have found that central body fat, especially around the abdomen, is more strongly linked to psoriasis risk than total body fat, particularly in women.

27 May 2025

Stress-induced sleep may hold the key to faster recovery

A new Neuron perspective reveals that stress can both disrupt and promote sleep, with specific brain circuits making stress-induced sleep a potential tool for recovery. This insight may lead to innovative approaches for building resilience and treating stress-related disorders.

25 May 2025

Oral microbiota transmission linked to shared depression and anxiety in couples

Oral microbiota dysbiosis and altered salivary cortisol levels have been linked to depression and anxiety.

23 May 2025

Mild winter temperatures offer surprising mental health benefits

Higher ambient temperatures during the cold season were linked to reduced stress, improved life satisfaction, better self-reported health, and less loneliness in a large Swiss population study. While effects were modest at the individual level, they highlight the broader mental health impacts of seasonal temperature changes.

22 May 2025

Unlocking the secrets of human longevity and healthy aging

Human healthy aging and longevity are complex phenomena influenced by a dynamic interplay of genetic, epigenetic, metabolic, immune, and environmental factors.

22 May 2025

Reduced monitoring after stroke found safe for low risk patients

Halving the number of times vital signs and neurological function are checked in low-risk patients after treatment for acute ischaemic stroke does not compromise care or recovery, according to new findings presented at the 11th European Stroke Organisation Conference in Helsinki, Finland.

22 May 2025