Sleep News and Research

Latest Sleep News and Research

Baby's first dreams

After about seven months growing in the womb, a human fetus spends most of its time asleep.

13 Apr 2009

Researchers model 3D structures of proteins that control human clock

In an Early Edition issue of The Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS) on April 9, 2009, the researchers report that they have been able to determine the molecular structure of a plant photolyase protein that is surprisingly similar to two cryptochrome proteins that control the "master clock" in humans and other mammals.

12 Apr 2009

Cognitive behavior therapy helps seniors with generalized anxiety disorder

Older adults with generalized anxiety disorder who received cognitive behavior therapy had greater improvement on measures of worry, depression and mental health than patients who received usual care, according to a study in the April 8 issue of JAMA, the Journal of the American Medical Association.

8 Apr 2009

Coping with the unstable economy

The unemployment rate is currently at one of the highest levels it's been in our nation's history.

6 Apr 2009

Obesity and overweight linked to greater risk of restless legs syndrome

A new study shows both obesity and a large belly appear to increase the risk of developing restless legs syndrome (RLS), a common sleep disorder characterized by an irresistible urge to move your legs.

6 Apr 2009

Maternal smoking impairs a baby's ability to respond to external stimuli

Monash University researchers have shown that babies born to a mother who smokes are more likely to be slower to wake or respond to stimulation - and this may explain their increased risk of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS).

6 Apr 2009

Late-night exposure to light may diminish levels of a natural cancer-fighting hormone

Does your shift at work put you at a greater risk for developing cancer?

5 Apr 2009

Bionovo announces publication of positive phase 2 trial results for Menerba

Bionovo, Inc. has announced the online publication of a peer-reviewed article in the journal, Menopause, reporting Menerba(TM) (formerly MF101) is well tolerated, safe and effective for the treatment of vasomotor symptoms (hot flashes and night sweats) associated with menopause.

2 Apr 2009

Maternal smoking replaces stomach sleeping as the greatest modifiable risk factor for SIDS

A study in the April 1 issue of the journal SLEEP shows that maternal smoking is associated with an impaired infant arousal process that may increase the risk for sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS).

1 Apr 2009

Low-income patients with obstructive sleep apnea are less likely to start CPAP therapy

A study in the April 1 issue of the journal SLEEP demonstrates that low socioeconomic status independently predicts the poor acceptance of continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) therapy for obstructive sleep apnea, and patients with higher incomes are more likely to begin treatment.

1 Apr 2009

Diet and lifestyle choices influence cancer survival

Head and neck cancer patients who smoked, drank, didn't exercise or didn't eat enough fruit when they were diagnosed had worse survival outcomes than those with better health habits, according to a new study from the University of Michigan Comprehensive Cancer Center.

1 Apr 2009

Insomnia and short sleep combination a risk factor for hypertension

A study in the April 1 issue of the journal SLEEP is the first to demonstrate that chronic insomnia with objectively measured short sleep time is an independent and clinically significant risk factor for hypertension.

1 Apr 2009

Babies born to stressed or depressed mothers more likely to have sleep issues

A study in the April 1 issue of the journal SLEEP suggests that babies are more likely to have night wakings at both 6 months and 12 months of age if they are born to women who suffered from anxiety or depression prior to the pregnancy.

1 Apr 2009

Addressing sleep problems could reduce the risk of suicidal behaviours

In a study presented at the World Psychiatric Association international congress "Treatments in Psychiatry," scientists found that the more types of sleep disturbances people had, the more likely they were to have thoughts of killing themselves, engage in planning a suicidal act or make a suicide attempt.

1 Apr 2009

University of Nottingham back pain study wins prestigious research prize

A study aimed at overcoming problems with treatments for a common cause of back pain has picked up one of the most prestigious prizes in spinal research.

31 Mar 2009

Gene scan shows body's sleep cycle influences numerous physical functions

The pineal gland - integral to setting the body's sleep and wake cycles - may be involved in a broad range of bodily functions, according to a study by researchers at the National Institutes of Health and other institutions.

30 Mar 2009

Retired NFL linemen have high incidence of sleep apnea

Sleep disordered breathing, also known as sleep apnea, is highly prevalent among retired National Football League (NFL) players, and particularly in linemen, according to Mayo Clinic research.

29 Mar 2009

Link between sleeping medicine use and driving impairment

A new study from the Norwegian Institute of Public Health shows a positive link between the amount of the hypnotic (sleeping medicine) zopiclone in the blood and the chance of being assessed as impaired in a clinical examination.

29 Mar 2009

Add-on treatment may reduce treatment-associated weight gain caused by antipsychotic treatments

Antipsychotic drugs, such as olanzapine (Zyprexa), risperidone (Risperdal) and quetiapine (Seroquel), are commonly used to treat psychotic disorders like schizophrenia, but also bipolar disorder and even behavioral problems related to dementia.

29 Mar 2009

Radius starts Ppase 2a trial of RAD1901 in menopausal hot flashes

Radius Health ("Radius") announced today that the first patient has been dosed in the company's proof-of-concept Phase 2a study of RAD1901, an investigational selective estrogen receptor modulator (SERM) undergoing clinical evaluation for treatment of vasomotor symptoms (menopausal hot flashes).

24 Mar 2009