TL;DR: A headband sensor picked up brief bursts of force inside the head during sleep in all 45 people tested. People with neurodegenerative diseases had fewer bursts per minute than healthy volunteers, in an early, not yet peer-reviewed study. Key Findings A new sleep signal: 1- to 2-second “sleep bursts” showed up in every one …
TL;DR: In rats stressed with mild foot shocks, REM sleep, the dream stage, dropped. The insomnia drug suvorexant and two related experimental drugs partly brought it back, and suvorexant also helped the rats fall asleep faster, but this was a small study in 9 male rats. Key Findings Stress cut REM sleep: The share of …
TL;DR: In sleeping mice, blood volume in the brain rose sharply during REM sleep, yet the energy molecule ATP inside neurons dropped. It bounced back as soon as the mice woke, suggesting REM sleep spends energy faster than blood supply alone can explain. Key Findings Imaged through the intact skull: Blood volume, support-cell fuel and …
TL;DR: Among 183 people with Parkinson’s in Finland, daytime sleepiness, napping, restless legs, sleep talking and nightmares all became more common over five years. Insomnia stayed about the same. Key Findings Daytime sleepiness: 31% to 39%. Daily naps: 21% to 32%. Sleep talking at least weekly: 17% to 30%. Restless legs and nightmares also rose. …
TL;DR: In 338 adults with sleep apnea, breathing events ran about 38 an hour on the back versus about 22 on either side. This past-records study shows a link, not that changing position helps. Key Findings Back sleeping worst: Among people who spent over 20% of the night on their backs, average was 38.1 apnea …
TL;DR: In a Chinese trial of 108 breast cancer survivors, 7 weeks of daily self-acupressure eased a combined score for fatigue, poor sleep and low mood more than pressing fake points or usual care. The gains held 12 weeks later, though all results were self-reported. Key Findings 108 survivors, 3 groups: Real acupressure, fake-point pressing …
TL;DR: In a pooled review of 8 studies of 980 people with depression and sleep problems, sleep tests showed more deep sleep and less light sleep after taking trazodone than before. Compared with placebo, though, the deep-sleep gain was not clear, and drowsiness and dizziness were more common. Key Findings 8 studies, 980 people: 5 …
TL;DR: Across 5 small trials of 343 people after stroke, people who sat in bright morning light reported better sleep quality than comparison groups. But measured time awake at night showed no clear change, so the benefit may be more about how sleep feels. Key Findings 5 trials, 343 people: All gave light in the …
TL;DR: A therapy app did not reduce depression scores more than a look-alike education app in a trial of adults with past concussions. Insomnia scores improved more with the therapy app, but only 42 of 113 participants completed the main 12-week check-in. Key Findings No edge on depression: Over 12 weeks, depression scores fell 2.0 …
TL;DR: In an online survey of 126 mothers of toddlers in Taiwan, mothers who reported more depressive symptoms also tended to describe their toddler’s sleep as more of a problem and to report longer times to fall asleep. The link with perceived sleep problems showed up in families where the toddler shared a sleeping surface …
