World Sleep Day is March 17. So, this week we give thanks to those in the field of sleep research, who have helped us understand just how vital sleep is to our health.
Here’s a great patient explainer video, from the University of Chicago, about the groundbreaking discovery of REM sleep in 1953.
Researchers believe that our brains practice new tasks while we sleep, and are currently seeking to further understand the role sleep plays in how we learn and form long-term memories.
The future of sleep research is changing. Advances in technology and telehealth are making it easier to conduct sleep testing at home. Sleep students as currently conducted—in a medical center—are likely to become less common.
If you have noticed more sleep problems as you get older, you are not alone. This infographic from Johns Hopkins University outlines what can happen to our sleep with age. If you’ve ever cared for an aging family member you might be particularly familiar with just how important sleep is to overall health—and how disruptive poor sleep can be for seniors in particular.
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Penny Schnarrs she/her
Director of Community Relations and Strategy
Association of American Medical Colleges
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