New Study Reveals How Intermittent Fasting Synchronizes Circadian Rhythms
A recent study published in Cell Metabolism sheds new light on the effects of intermittent fasting (IF) on the body’s internal clocks, particularly the circadian rhythm, which governs our sleep-wake cycle. Conducted on mice, the study found that time-restricted eating—where food intake is limited to a specific window—can synchronize the circadian rhythms across various organs, […]
Sleep Key to Feeling Younger and Slowing Aging
Razi Berry Poor sleep in the over 50s is linked to more negative perceptions of ageing, which in turn can impact physical, mental and cognitive health, new research has revealed. A study led by the University of Exeter and found that people who rated their sleep the worst also felt older, and perceived their own […]
Getting Better Sleep Could HELP Reverse Alzheimer’s (in mice)
Razi Berry Multiple studies in humans and mouse models indicate that sleep disruptions raise the risk of Alzheimer’s disease (AD) by increasing the accumulation of disease-relevant proteins such as amyloid-beta (A-beta) in the brain. In the current study, a team led by researchers at Baylor College of Medicine discovered that, in an animal model of […]
Why Dreaming Matters
Razi Berry Scientists have long wondered why almost all animals sleep, despite the disadvantages to survival of being unconscious. Now, researchers led by a team from the University of Tsukuba have found new evidence of brain refreshing that takes place during a specific phase of sleep: rapid eye movement (REM) sleep, which is when you […]
Naps Don’t Counter Sleep Deprivation
Razi Berry A nap during the day won’t restore a sleepless night, says the latest study from Michigan State University’s Sleep and Learning Lab. “We are interested in understanding cognitive deficits associated with sleep deprivation. In this study, we wanted to know if a short nap during the deprivation period would mitigate these deficits,” said […]
Blue Light Exposure and Energy Metabolism
Razi Berry Extended exposure to light during nighttime can have negative consequences for human health. But now, researchers from Japan have identified a new type of light with reduced consequences for physiological changes during sleep. In a study published in Scientific Reports, researchers from University of Tsukuba compared the effects of light-emitting diodes (LEDs), which […]
Exercise Improves Sleep
Razi Berry Those who had both the poorest sleep quality and who exercised the least were most at risk of death from heart disease, stroke, and cancer, the findings indicate, prompting the researchers to suggest a likely synergy between the two activities. Both physical inactivity and poor sleep are independently associated with a heightened risk […]
Caffeine Not the Best for Fighting Sleep Deprivation
Razi Berry Rough night of sleep? Relying on caffeine to get you through the day isn’t always the answer, says a new study from Michigan State University. Researchers from MSU’s Sleep and Learning Lab, led by psychology associate professor Kimberly Fenn, assessed how effective caffeine was in counteracting the negative effects of sleep deprivation on […]
Waking Earlier May Help Depression
Razi Berry Waking up just one hour earlier could reduce a person’s risk of major depression by 23%, suggests a sweeping new genetic study published in the journal JAMA Psychiatry. The study of 840,000 people, by researchers at University of Colorado Boulder and the Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, represents some of the strongest […]
Sleep Helps Heal Traumatic Brain Injuries
Razi Berry Sound sleep plays a critical role in healing traumatic brain injury, a new study of military veterans suggests. The study, published in the Journal of Neurotrauma, used a new technique involving magnetic resonance imaging developed at Oregon Health & Science University. Researchers used MRI to evaluate the enlargement of perivascular spaces that surround […]