Insomnia can damage your intelligence and overall cognitive function – but it now appears that you can improve your sleep simply by challenging your brain.
Researchers studied 51 insomnia sufferers aged between 65 and 85.
34 of the participants were placed in a ‘cognitive training’ group and 17 were put in a control group.
All participants then completed a computer training course for 8 weeks.
Those in the cognitive training group were set 21 tasks with 3 different levels of difficulty. The control group wasn’t set any high-level cognitive function tasks.
Researchers found that at the end of the 8 weeks, those assigned the cognitive function tasks fell asleep nearly 14 minutes faster and saw their sleep efficiency increase from an average of 73.54% before the treatment to 80.28% after.
What’s perhaps even more dramatic is that the decrease in time to fall asleep moved every single insomniac out of the criteria for insomnia (when using that measure alone).
The improvements in sleep efficiency almost moved participants out of the criteria for insomnia (sleep efficiency needs to be below 85%).
The cognitive training group also experienced fewer nighttime awakenings.
There was still something interesting to come from the control group, though. Researchers found that the associated cognitive decline in working memory increased the time it took for these participants to fall asleep.
In conclusion, it would appear that cognitive training – particularly for older insomnia sufferers – can dramatically improve sleep.
So get out there and teach yourself some new tricks!
Source: PubMed
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We already have a good idea of how much insomnia costs businesses each year – but up to now, we’ve not had a good idea of how much it costs individuals.
Researchers have set out to try to determine just how much insomnia costs on an individual level.
The study examined a random selection of 948 adults from Quebec, Canada.
Each participant answered questions on their sleep, overall health, use of healthcare services, absences from work, accidents and work productivity.
For those with insomnia, the annual cost was $5,010.
For those with insomnia symptoms but no diagnosis, the annual cost was $1,431.
For those who slept well, there was still an annual cost – $421.
Insomnia can be treated relatively inexpensively – and as studies like this show, treating insomnia will always be far more cost effective than ignoring the condition.
Source: NCBI
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I just stumbled upon one of the biggest reasons yet for why you should never ignore insomnia.
Researchers at the University of Southern Denmark examined almost 1,000 men. The men gave sperm samples and were also asked about their sleep.
The study found that those who went to bed late at night, frequently woke during the night, or had trouble falling asleep had a sperm count that was 25% lower compared to those who slept normally.
Researchers also found that the testicles of those with insomnia symptoms were significantly smaller than those who slept well.
The researchers have no idea why there appears to be a link between sleep deprivation and lower sperm counts and smaller testicles, and they’re keen to point out that there is no proof that insomnia is to blame (or vice-versa).
One theory suggests the link may be due to the fact that those who suffer from insomnia often have unhealthier lifestyles (think smoking, drinking and weight problems).
Researchers also suggest that testosterone and sleep may be far more closely linked than we ever thought.
Source: Daily Mail
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There are lots of people out there touting insomnia advice and solutions (I am one of them!) – but not all the advice they share will always be accurate, safe or appropriate for you.
Today I want to share the experiences of one man who tried out a recommended insomnia cure from celebrity doctor, Dr Oz. Unfortunately it didn’t go well.
The insomnia cure in question involved using a ‘heated rice footsie’.
Basically, you pour rice into your socks, heat them in the microwave and then wear them in bed for up to 20 minutes.
The theory? The hot rice diverts blood to your feet, lowering your core body temperature and helping you sleep.
The reality? Well, for the man now suing Dr Oz, it was third-degree burns and being confined to his bed for two weeks.
Be careful out there, folks!
Source: CNN
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