A recent study in Neurology identified two new early warning signs of dementia related to circadian rhythm disruptions and activity timing, suggesting that irregular body clocks and late-day activity peaks may be associated with higher dementia risk. Maintaining regular routines, good sleep hygiene, and a healthy lifestyle may help lower the risk, but more research is needed to understand causality.
A large international study found that exposure to bright light at night significantly increases the risk of cardiovascular diseases in adults over 50, independent of other risk factors, suggesting that reducing night-time light exposure could be a beneficial preventive strategy.
Researchers at the University of Copenhagen identified a rare brain cell type whose overactivity may contribute to schizophrenia symptoms. Reducing the activity of these cells in mice normalized sleep and behavior, suggesting a potential early intervention target before symptoms fully develop. This discovery offers hope for developing precise treatments to prevent cognitive deficits associated with schizophrenia.
The AWS outage on October 21 caused widespread internet disruptions, including the failure of the WiFi-dependent Eight Sleep Pod smart bed system, leading to sleep issues for users. Eight Sleep has announced a Backup Mode to mitigate future outages, but the incident highlights the risks of relying heavily on cloud connectivity for smart home devices.
Changing clocks for daylight saving time can negatively affect health, increasing risks of heart attacks, strokes, mood disorders, and traffic accidents, especially when clocks are moved forward in spring, due to disruption of circadian rhythms and sleep patterns. The autumn shift appears less harmful, but still has some risks. Overall, the health benefits of DST are questionable, and some experts suggest eliminating it altogether.
A Virginia mother is warning parents about the dangers of children using smartphones at night after her 10-year-old daughter's suicide, which she attributes to cyberbullying and sleep disruption caused by phone use. She advocates for removing phones from children's bedrooms to prevent similar tragedies and highlights the link between late-night screen time, mental health issues, and increased suicide risk among youth.
Sleeping with the AC on may be comfortable, but it can pose health risks such as skin dryness, respiratory irritation, immune fatigue, joint stiffness, disrupted sleep, and microbiome imbalance, which could impact overall well-being over time.
Taking multivitamins, especially those containing B vitamins like B12 and B6, in the evening can disrupt sleep by increasing light sensitivity and causing vivid dreams or insomnia. The best time to take multivitamins is in the morning with food. For better sleep, supplements like magnesium, melatonin, and calcium are recommended in the evening, as they can promote relaxation and support healthy sleep cycles.
Extreme heat negatively impacts brain function, decision-making, and emotional regulation by impairing the blood-brain barrier, increasing oxidative stress, disrupting sleep, and elevating stress levels, especially affecting vulnerable groups. To mitigate these effects, experts recommend hydration, shade, air conditioning, and mental strategies like maintaining calm and self-control.
A study published in Brain shows that fragmented sleep damages brain blood vessels by affecting pericytes, which may increase the risk of dementia and cognitive decline, highlighting the importance of sleep health for brain vascular integrity.
Consuming coffee with poor habits such as late in the day, unfiltered brewing, excessive sugar, immediately after waking, or as a meal replacement can harm health by disrupting sleep, increasing cholesterol, adding empty calories, and causing nutritional deficiencies. Experts recommend timing caffeine consumption, choosing filtered brewing methods, limiting sugar, delaying coffee intake, and pairing it with balanced meals to maximize benefits and minimize risks.
Artificial light at night disrupts circadian rhythms, affecting immune function, mood, metabolism, and sleep, especially in shift workers and hospitalized patients. Research by Dr. Randy Nelson highlights potential solutions like light management and policy changes to mitigate these effects and improve health outcomes.
Research presented at the European Academy of Neurology Congress 2025 links frequent nightmares to accelerated biological aging and a higher risk of premature death, with nightmares causing stress and sleep disruption that contribute to faster cellular aging, as evidenced by shorter telomeres. Adults experiencing weekly nightmares are over three times more likely to die before 70, highlighting the importance of addressing nightmare frequency for health.
A new study shows that rising temperatures due to climate change significantly increase the risk and severity of sleep apnea, with sleep disruptions worsening as temperatures climb, especially affecting those without access to cooling.
Dr. Abinash Achrekar emphasizes the importance of limiting screen time for both children and adults, as excessive screen time is linked to health risks such as weight gain, heart disease, and type 2 diabetes. Disconnecting from devices can help reduce chronic stress and anxiety, while avoiding screen time before bed can improve sleep quality and overall health. Simple changes, such as using a real alarm clock and keeping devices in another room, can make a significant difference in reducing screen time and its associated health risks.
