Disrupted sleep patterns may lead to changes in bone turnover, potentially contributing to bone loss, osteoporosis, and increased fracture risk. Summary: At the University of Colorado’s annual Research Day, Christine Swanson, MD, MCR, presented her NIH-funded research exploring the link between sleep and osteoporosis. Swanson noted that while hormonal changes, aging, and lifestyle factors contribute to osteoporosis, sleep disruption may also play a role. Her study showed that cumulative sleep restriction and circadian disruption caused significant detrimental changes in bone turnover markers ..read more

Asthmatics with insomnia experienced more asthma exacerbations than those without insomnia and were more likely to have concurrent sleep apnea, along with anxiety or depression.  Summary: Researchers at National Jewish Health found that sleep and mood disorders negatively impact asthma control. Analyzing data from 659 asthma patients, they discovered a significant interaction between insomnia, depression, and obstructive sleep apnea. Those with insomnia were more likely to have concurrent obstructive sleep apnea, along with a depression or anxiety diagnosis, and experienced more frequent ..read more

NIH’s RECOVER-SLEEP clinical trials will test potential treatments for long COVID-related hypersomnia and sleep disturbances. Summary: The NIH’s RECOVER Initiative is launching clinical trials to investigate treatments for long COVID-related symptoms, including sleep disturbances and post-exertional malaise. The RECOVER-SLEEP trials will examine two FDA-approved drugs, melatonin, and light therapy for hypersomnia and complex sleep disturbances. The RECOVER-ENERGIZE trials will test personalized cardiopulmonary rehabilitation for exercise intolerance and structured pacing for post-exertional ma ..read more

Certification is a demonstration to accredited sleep facilities that the accuracy of an autoscoring solution is comparable to manual scoring by trained professionals. Summary: EnsoData’s AI-powered sleep scoring solution, EnsoSleep, has earned stage-specific autoscoring software certification from the American Academy of Sleep Medicine (AASM). Cleared by the FDA in 2017, EnsoSleep uses AI and machine learning to analyze sleep study data, helping diagnose sleep disorders. Organizations using EnsoSleep report significant time savings, according to EnsoData.  Key Takeaways:  EnsoSleep ..read more

Explore the January 2023 Edition Learn how companies reach people who would not otherwise encounter sleep specialists in this issue’s cover story. Plus, understand your direct-ship HST options, get advice from dentists who’ve grown their practices to multiple locations, learn what sex has to do with narcolepsy, and more. View The Issue Take the Quiz CSTE Exam Preparation Articles For thorough test preparation, please review these essential articles. They cover key topics and concepts that will be evaluated. A Workaround to Identify the Undiagnosed Learning Objectives:  Analyze ..read more

A study finds children who consistently sleep fewer hours from infancy to 7 years old are over twice as likely to develop psychosis in early adulthood. Summary: A University of Birmingham study found that children with persistent sleep deprivation from infancy to age 7 are over twice as likely to develop psychosis in early adulthood and nearly four times as likely to experience a psychotic episode. Using data from the Avon Longitudinal Study, researchers linked chronic childhood sleep problems to increased risk of psychosis. The findings, published in JAMA Psychiatry, suggest that improving ch ..read more

UCLA Health researchers discovereed a new type of memory state, which occurs in the brain region where Alzheimer’s begins, known as spontaneous persistent inactivity. Summary: UCLA Health researchers, led by neurophysicist Mayank Mehta, have discovered a novel mechanism that optimizes memory processing in the brain’s entorhinal cortex, crucial for learning and memory, even during sleep. This region is also where Alzheimer’s disease typically begins. Their study, published in Nature Communications, introduces a “mathematical microscope” that simplifies the brain’s complex neural interactions in ..read more

Temporary oral appliances (also known as transitional, interim, or trial appliances) facilitate immediate therapy for obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) versus the longer waits for custom oral appliances for OSA. According to an American Academy of Dental Sleep Medicine task force, they are defined as: “A temporary appliance is prescribed by a qualified dentist to treat OSA or snoring, is generally prefabricated or has a prefabricated shell that can be customized to fit an individual patient and is able to be calibrated. Temporary appliances are indicated for short-term use as a transition to a pro ..read more

A study finds primary care records could play a vital role in identifying people with insomnia who are not captured by questionnaire data. Summary: A University of Bristol-led study, published in BMJ Open, found discrepancies between primary care records and questionnaire data on insomnia symptoms. Among the 29% of participants who reported insomnia in the UK Biobank questionnaire, only 10% had their symptoms documented in GP records. The study provides insights into the characteristics of those with insomnia, revealing common factors like age, gender, and lifestyle habits. It underscores the ..read more

The Government Accountability Office urges military leadership to prioritize and address the widespread issue of sleep deprivation among service members to enhance performance and safety. Summary: The Government Accountability Office (GAO) report reveals persistent sleep deprivation among US service members, with many not meeting the Department of Defense’s recommended seven hours of sleep. Despite efforts, including the inclusion of sleep readiness in Army manuals and the use of biometric data from wearable devices to monitor health, challenges remain. The report links inadequate sleep to dec ..read more