There are few disciplines in science and medicine as broadly important, or as inherently relatable, as the study of sleep. During the annual Johns Hopkins Sleep and Circadian Research Day, a disparate group of clinicians, epidemiologists, geneticists and basic researchers gather to share posters and present new findings at the vanguard of sleep research on(...)
sleep
Sleep May be a Curious Piece in the Alzheimer’s Disease Puzzle (Part 2)
Posted by | Perspectives in ResearchThis blog post is part of an in depth look at research linking sleep and Alzheimers. Read part 1 on the importance of sleep. How is chronic sleep deprivation linked to Alzheimer’s disease? Sleep deprivation refers to the ongoing shortening or complete loss of sleep due to externally imposed restrictions, such as choosing to binge on just(...)
Sleep May be a Curious Piece in the Alzheimer’s Disease Puzzle (Part 1)
Posted by | Perspectives in ResearchThis blog post is part of an in depth look at research linking sleep and Alzheimers. Think about your sleep quality for the past few months. Has your sleep been routinely interrupted or has it been restful? Has your sleep become worse with age? Perhaps the stresses of your daily life have intruded upon your ability(...)
Sleep: Our Panacea
Posted by | Did You See This?, Perspectives in ResearchHumans and animals share the most basic drives in life: the need for food and water, and the urge to procreate. Yet only humans have built a modern world in which these drives seem to cause more problems than they solve. Bookstores worldwide have dedicated whole sections to literature about reconciling your natural desires with(...)
Who Has Time to Sleep?
Posted by | A Day in the Life, Perspectives in ResearchAt the proverbial watercooler in teaching hospitals across the world, one hears remarkably similar refrains: “This patient is back again,” “I have no idea why my experiment failed this time” and, most universally, “I’ve only slept three hours in the past two days!” Medical trainees often view sleep deprivation as a badge of honor, one(...)
Clinical Trial Shines Light on Sleep Disorders in Blind Patients
Posted by | Perspectives in ResearchLast month, The Lancet published an article describing a recent phase III clinical trial in totally blind patients. The study evaluated the efficacy of a new medical intervention called tasimelteon for non-24-hour sleep-wake disorders.1 The science behind these conditions is simple. Circadian rhythm sleep-wake disorders result from discordance between an individual’s environment and the sleep-wake(...)