Winner of AASM High School Writing Contest to Attend SLEEP 2010

The American Academy of Sleep Medicine announced that it is sponsoring a new writing contest for high school juniors and seniors. The winning student will be recognized at SLEEP 2010 in San Antonio, Texas.

The first-place prize for the 2009 – 2010 AASM High School Topical Review in Sleep Science Contest also includes a $1,000 U.S. savings bond.

To enter, students must write an original topical review paper related to sleep and sleep disorders. They can choose a topic from 12 subject areas. These include sleep deprivation, insomnia, sleep related breathing disorders and drowsy driving. Entrants must be sponsored by their science teacher.

The first-place student and one parent or guardian will receive a three-day/two-night trip to San Antonio, Texas, in June. There they will attend the SLEEP 2010 24th Annual Meeting of the Associated Professional Sleep Societies LLC from June 6 to 8, 2010.

Prizes also will be awarded for second place, third place and honorable mention. All award recipients will have their paper posted on the AASM Web site at www.sleepeducation.com. All recognized papers also will be considered for publication in the Journal of Clinical Sleep Medicine, the official publication of the AASM and a leading scientific journal in the field of sleep.

Get complete details and a contest entry form online. The submission deadline is Friday, Jan. 15, 2010.

SLEEP 2009 Concludes

The final sessions of the SLEEP 2009 scientific program ended at 12:15 p.m. Pacific Time at the Washington State Convention and Trade Center in Seattle, Wash.

The SLEEP 2010 24th Annual Meeting of the Associated Professional Sleep Societies is scheduled for June 5 to 9, 2010, in San Antonio, Texas.

CPAP for Mild to Moderate Sleep Apnea

A late-breaking abstract (LBA 8) that will be presented at noon Pacific Time as an oral presentation demonstrates that people with mild to moderate obstructive sleep apnea may experience a clinically relevant and statistically significant improvement in functional status at eight weeks on active continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) therapy.

The study analyses involved 113 people who were randomized to an active CPAP therapy treatment group, and 110 people who were randomized to a sham treatment group. The adjusted group difference in mean changes from baseline to week eight of treatment was 0.95 points on the Functional Outcomes of Sleep Questionnaire total score.

You can read the abstract in the final program.

The Genetics of Sleep Duration

A late-breaking abstract (LBA 2) that will be presented later this morning as an oral presentation identified new genes associated with variations in sleep duration. The genome-wide association study involved 2,200 people in Finland; they were characterized for sleep length per night and evaluated for depressive symptoms and variation in mood.

The researchers found several new genes and variants that showed statistically significant association with total sleep length. Analysis also showed that sleep length and seasonal changes in mood share common molecular genes and pathways. This suggests that sleep disturbances and mood disorders may share common genetic components.

You can read the abstract in the final program.

Why Do We Sleep?

A symposium taking place until 10 a.m. and being led by chair Dr. Jerome Siegel is discussing answers to this intriguing question: “Does sleep have a universal vital function across individuals and species?”

The discussion is getting to the heart of theories about why we sleep and about possible functions of sleep. Siegel addressed the topic in the 2003 article “Why we sleep.” He writes that “we have no comparably straightforward explanation for sleep.” But sleep research has led to numerous “reasonable proposals.”

One of the symposium faculty, Dr. Chiara Cirelli, was the co-author of a recent essay on the subject entitled, “Is sleep essential?” They conclude that there is still no consensus for “the elusive phoenix of sleep.”

In April the Sleep Education Blog reported that a group from Spain has proposed a more controversial perspective. In “The trivial function of sleep,” they argue that “sleep does not provide additional advantages over simple rest.”

Sleep & Hypertension

A symposium taking place until 10 a.m. and being led by chair Dr. Antonio Culebras is focusing on “Sleep and Hypertension.” Topics being discussed include the relationship between sleep, sleep disorders and high blood pressure, as well as how to manage patients with high blood pressure through the identification of these sleep disorders.

Sleep disorders that will be prominent in this discussion include obstructive sleep apnea, periodic limb movements and insomnia. A study in the April 1 issue of the journal SLEEP reported that the risk of hypertension associated with insomnia and a short sleep duration is comparable to the risk associated with obstructive sleep apnea.

Culebras was one co-author of a scientific statement published last summer that focused on the growing evidence linking sleep apnea to cardiovascular disease. The statement reported that about 50 percent of OSA patients are hypertensive, and an estimated 30 percent of hypertensive patients also have OSA, often undiagnosed.

Sleep & Emotional Memories

A study (#1244) that will be presented later this morning as an oral presentation suggests that sleep preserves in long-term memory only what is emotionally important and relevant to future goals.

Results show that the placement of sleep is critical for remembering the components of emotionally negative scenes, but it does not impact memory for neutral scenes. Emotional items are selectively remembered 24 hours and 4 months later, but only if sleep comes soon after learning.

Find out more about theories describing the role of sleep in memory on the Sleep Education Blog.

You can download the SLEEP 2009 abstract supplement as an 11 MB file in PDF format.

Sleep & Weight Gain

Two studies that will be presented later this morning as oral presentations shed light on the associations between sleep and weight gain.

One study (#0981) used data from 1,797 twins with an average age of 37 years to show that body mass index (BMI) varied as a function of habitual sleep duration. Results show that twins who slept between 7 and 8.9 hours each night had a lower mean BMI (25.0 kg/m2) compared with those who regularly slept either more (25.2 kg/m2) or less (26.4 kg/m2) per night. The findings remained significant even after careful adjustment for genetics and shared environment.

Analyzing data from the Sleep Heart Health Study, another study (#0515) suggests that there is a positive association between the severity of obstructive sleep apnea and subsequent change in BMI over approximately five years. The study involved 3,001 people with an average age of 62 years. Compared with participants who did not have sleep apnea, individuals with baseline moderate to severe sleep apnea had a mean change in BMI of 0.52 kg/m2; those with mild sleep apnea had a BMI change of 0.22 kg/m2. The association was significant despite adjustments for age, gender and race.

You can download the SLEEP 2009 abstract supplement as an 11 MB file in PDF format.

Final Day of SLEEP 2009 Will Start at 8 a.m. Pacific Time

The final day of the SLEEP 2009 scientific program will begin in about three hours at 8 a.m. Pacific Time.

There will be two rounds of symposia and oral presentation sessions: from 8 a.m. to 10 a.m., and then from 10:15 a.m. to 12:15 p.m.

There also will be a special session of “late-breaking abstracts” from 10:15 a.m. to 12:15 p.m.

SLEEP 2009 will conclude today at 12:15 p.m. Pacific Time.

View today’s session schedule.

Third Day of SLEEP 2009 Wrapping Up

The final discussion group, symposia and oral presentations for the third day of SLEEP 2009 are underway and will conclude at 4:45 p.m. Pacific Time.

The final day of the scientific program will begin Thursday at 8 a.m. Pacific Time with three symposia and more oral presentations. SLEEP 2009 will conclude at 12:15 p.m. tomorrow.

The Neurobiology of Narcolepsy

Dr. Thomas Scammell, associate professor of neurology at Harvard Medical School, is presenting an invited lecture this afternoon from 1:30 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. Pacific Time on the subject of the “Neurobiology of Narcolepsy.”

Scammel is studying mice to gain a detailed understanding of the neurobiology of orexin, hoping that this will contribute to the development of effective therapies for patients with narcolepsy and enhance the understanding of sleep.

In April his study, “Feeding-elicited cataplexy in orexin knockout mice” was published online ahead of print in the journal Neuroscience. In the Jan. 1 issue of the journal SLEEP Scammel published, “A consensus definition of cataplexy in mouse models of narcolepsy.”

In May the Sleep Education Blog reported on an important new genetic study, which suggests that narcolepsy is an autoimmune disorder. Read the full report.

REM Sleep Affects Emotions & Mood

Two studies being presented today shed light on the importance of rapid eye movement (REM) sleep.

A study (#1284) being presented as a poster until 12:15 p.m. Pacific Time reports that in both men and women, REM appears to modulate negative affect; in females, REM also may modulate negative autobiographical memories. According to the study’s author, the results suggest that severe depression in women may be associated with an excess of REM sleep.

Another study (#0379) that will be presented this afternoon as an oral presentation suggests that REM sleep may enhance the brain’s empathetic capacity toward positive emotions. Results show that participants who did not take an afternoon nap displayed an amplified reaction to expressions representing anger and fear when tested on a face-rating task at 5 p.m. In contrast, participants who had an afternoon nap opportunity lasting 60 to 90 minutes displayed an increased receptiveness to happy facial expressions following sleep; however, this beneficial effect was found only in participants who achieved REM sleep during the nap.

The American Academy of Sleep Medicine reports that sleep involves multiple stages that make up a sleep cycle. Each complete cycle lasts about 90 to 110 minutes; most adults will go through four to six cycles in a full night of sleep. REM sleep tends to be the final stage of the sleep cycle in normal adult sleep. Most dreams occur during this sleep stage. Find more about the stages of sleep on SleepEducation.com.

You can download the SLEEP 2009 abstract supplement as an 11 MB file in PDF format.

Sleepless and Stressed

A study (#1268) being presented this morning as a poster reports that there is a bidirectional relationship between stress and poor sleep.

Results show that higher habitual stress is associated with reported shorter sleep duration, poorer sleep quality, and daytime functioning impairments. Conversely, daytime functioning impairments and shorter sleep duration demonstrated a predictive relationship with habitual stress complaints.

In February the Sleep Education Blog reported that stress related to the struggling economy can have a negative impact on sleep. On SleepEducation.com the American Academy of Sleep Medicine describes how job stress can affect sleep.

You can download the SLEEP 2009 abstract supplement as an 11 MB file in PDF format.

Sleep & Women: Rheumatoid Arthritis

A study (#1007) that will be presented later this morning as a poster indicates that women with rheumatoid arthritis report poor sleep quality.

The study involved 133 women with RA; their average age was 56 years and they had RA for an average of almost 15 years.

Results show that 71 percent of the women had poor self-reported sleep quality. Pain, depression and poor adherence to RA medications also contributed to impaired sleep.

The American Academy of Sleep Medicine reports that many medical and neurological disorders may give rise to chronic insomnia. Disorders that cause pain, breathing problems, limited mobility, and central nervous system (CNS) symptoms are the major ailments that cause difficulty initiating and maintaining sleep. Find more about insomnia due to medical condition on SleepEducation.com.

You can download the SLEEP 2009 abstract supplement as an 11 MB file in PDF format.

Complementary and Alternative Medicine for Sleep

“The Use of Complementary and Alternative Medicine for Sleep” is a symposium that is taking place until 10 a.m. Pacific Time. One topic being discussed is the use of meditation and yoga for the treatment of insomnia.

A small pilot study (#0874) presented yesterday reported that Kriya Yoga – a type of meditation that combines different yoga techniques – may be an effective behavioral treatment for chronic primary insomnia.

Another topic being discussed is the efficacy of acupuncture on sleep in depressed pregnant women. In February the Sleep Education Blog reported on a new scientific review of acupuncture use for insomnia. The authors conclude that acupuncture has potential as an insomnia treatment, but there is only limited evidence to support its use. Read the full report.

In 2006 the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine (NCCAM), part of the National Institutes of Health, reported that more than 1.6 million American adults use some form of CAM to treat insomnia or trouble sleeping.

A 2007 study of CAM use published in the journal SLEEP reported that large segments of the U.S. population use valerian or melatonin for insomnia, and usage typically falls outside the purview of the health-care system.

Using Melatonin to Treat Circadian Rhythm Sleep Disorders

A symposium taking place until 10 a.m. Pacific Time is addressing the clinical use of melatonin. “Melatonin Treatment of Sleep and Circadian Disorders” is focusing on the two therapeutic effects identified for melatonin: using low-dose melatonin for circadian phase shifting, and using high-dose melatonin for acute sleep promotion.

“Practice parameters for the clinical evaluation and treatment of circadian rhythm sleep disorders,” published by the American Academy of Sleep Medicine in a 2007 issue of the journal SLEEP, includes recommendations for using melatonin to treat circadian rhythm sleep disorders such as shift work and jet lag. View the practice parameters online.

Sleep & Motherhood

Two studies that will be presented later this morning as posters examine issues related to sleep and motherhood.

One study (#0143) reports that although postpartum mothers’ sleep is disturbed and leads to significant daytime consequences, the timing of their nocturnal sleep may be preserved. Results show that the actual bedtimes and wake times of first-time mothers of newborns were positively correlated with their preferred times. Mothers with both a newborn and other children also tended to fall asleep at their preferred time, but they woke up earlier than their preferred time.

Another study (#0243) suggests that parental presence at bedtime appears to be the factor that impacts sleep more than literal co-sleeping. The study involved parents of 29,287 infants and toddlers from 17 countries. Results show that in predominately Caucasian countries, bed sharing was reported by 11.8 percent of parents and room sharing by 22 percent; in predominately Asian countries these figures were 64.7 percent and 86.5 percent. In predominately Caucasian countries, children who slept in a separate room obtained more sleep, woke less at night, had less difficulty at bedtime, fell asleep faster, and were perceived as having fewer sleep problems; only 40.9 percent of their parents were present with them at bedtime.

Last year at SLEEP 2008 the same research team reported that young children in predominately Caucasian countries have earlier bedtimes and obtain more overall sleep than young children in predominately Asian countries. U.S. children had an average bedtime of 8:52 p.m. and averaged 12.9 hours of total sleep time per day.

You can download the SLEEP 2009 abstract supplement as an 11 MB file in PDF format.

Caffeine Prevents Risk Taking After 75 Hours of Sleep Deprivation

A study (#0473) that will be presented later this morning as a poster reports that caffeine use prevents increased risk taking after 75 hours of total sleep deprivation.

The study at the Walter Reed Army Institute of Research involved 25 healthy adults between 20 and 35 years of age who were deprived of sleep for three nights. Twelve participants received 200 mg caffeine gum bi-hourly from 1 a.m. to 7 a.m. each morning (for a total of 800 mg per morning); 13 participants received identical placebo gum.

A behavioral task of risky behavior was administered after 51 hours of wakefulness and again after 75 hours of sleep deprivation. Results show that risk taking was unaffected in the placebo group after 51 hours, but increased significantly by 75 hours.

The caffeine group remained unchanged at both time points and was significantly less risky than the placebo group at 75 hours. The study suggests that extreme sleep deprivation may cause individuals to reach a “breaking point” at which they are less likely to inhibit risky behavior.

You can download the SLEEP 2009 abstract supplement as an 11 MB file in PDF format.

Sleep & Growing Older

Three studies that will be presented later this morning as posters shed light on issues related to sleep in older adults.

A study (#0363) involving Sleep Heart Health Study participants used direct measures of sleep fragmentation to show that increases in specific sleep stage transitions during the night are associated with higher mortality risk. This association was found in middle-aged and older adults who had more objectively measured wake to non-rapid eye movement (NREM) sleep transitions per hour of sleep, and in participants who had more NREM to wake transitions. Over the average follow-up period of eight years, 854 of the 5,614 participants died (15.2 percent).

A study (#0373) involving a national sample of older Americans shows that more than 55 percent reported sleeping for an average of seven hours or less per night during the past month. But only 18 percent reported that they “often” or “almost always” feel “unrested during the day.” The average age of the 1,570 participants was 71.9 years.

Another study (#0420) reports that older adults (between 59 and 82 years of age) showed more resiliency to total sleep deprivation than younger adults (between 19 and 38 years of age) on a range of measures of cognitive performance. Participants completed three cognitive tasks before and after sleep deprivation lasting 12 hours and 36 hours. For all three tasks, young adults significantly declined during total sleep deprivation while older adults did not change significantly.

You can download the SLEEP 2009 abstract supplement as an 11 MB file in PDF format.

Sleep Promotes Academic Success

A study (# 0312) that will be presented later this morning as a poster found that reports of better sleep across both the weekdays and the weekend appear to be positively associated with educational success.

The study involved 56 students between 14 and 18 years of age. Each of them had complaints of daytime sleepiness and/or insufficient sleep at night.

Although higher sleep quality and sleep efficiency tended to be related to higher overall grades, specific subjects were related to different sleep measures. Higher math scores were related to fewer awakenings, less time in bed, higher sleep efficiency and better sleep quality. Higher English scores were associated with fewer awakenings during the night, and both English and history scores were associated with less difficulty awakening in the morning.

Another study (#0161) presented yesterday reported that being a “night owl” or “evening type” is associated with lower academic performance in college and a decline in academic performance from high school to college.

You can download the SLEEP 2009 abstract supplement as an 11 MB file in PDF format.

It’s Complicated: Sleep, Marriage & Relationships

Three studies that will be presented later this morning as posters examine the association between sleep and a couple’s relationship.

One study (#1248) reports that being stably married or gaining a partner is associated with better subjective sleep quality and objective sleep efficiency than being unmarried or losing a partner. The study’s lead author presented similar findings last year at SLEEP 2008, reporting that marital happiness may lower the risk of sleep problems in Caucasian women, while marital strife may heighten the risk. Read a press release about last year’s study. Earlier in 2009 in the journal Behavioral Sleep Medicine, the same team published their finding that happily married women reported fewer sleep disturbances, with the association evident among Caucasian women and to a lesser extent among African-American women.

Another study (#1295) involving 159,856 participants found that sleep disturbance is associated with being unmarried. The rates of self-reported sleep disturbance classified by marital status were 16.3 percent for married, 21.2 percent for divorced, 21.3 percent for never married, 22.8 percent for unmarried couple, 25.4 percent for widowed and 30.7 percent for separated. “Sleep disturbance” was defined as seven or more days of having trouble falling asleep, staying asleep or sleeping too much over the last two weeks. Less education, lower income and being unemployed also were associated with sleep disturbance.

A third study (#1285) reports that bidirectional associations appear to exist between sleep quality and interpersonal interactions of co-sleeping couples. Sleep problems at night may have a negative impact on relationship satisfaction the following day, while daytime interactions may influence the quality of sleep that night.

You can download the SLEEP 2009 abstract supplement as an 11 MB file in PDF format.

Day Three of SLEEP 2009 Will Start at 8 a.m. Pacific Time

The third day of the SLEEP 2009 scientific program will begin in about three hours at 8 a.m. Pacific Time.

The day will begin with six more symposia from 8 a.m. to 10 a.m. Research abstracts will be presented as posters from 10:15 a.m. to 12:15 p.m. A variety of other sessions will take place throughout the day until 4:45 p.m.

View today’s session schedule.

Second Day of SLEEP 2009 Coming to a Close

The final discussion group, symposia and oral presentations for the second day of SLEEP 2009 are underway and will conclude at 4:45 p.m. Pacific Time.

Some American Academy of Sleep Medicine section members will be in section meetings from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m.

Day three of the scientific program will begin with six more symposia at 8 a.m. Pacific Time on Wednesday.

Sleep in Posttraumatic Stress Disorder

Dr. Anne Germain, assistant professor of psychiatry at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, is presenting an invited lecture on “Sleep in Posttraumatic Stress Disorder” until 2:30 p.m. Pacific Time. Topics being discussed include sleep disorders reported by patients with PTSD and effective pharmacological and behavioral treatments for sleep disturbances in PTSD.

The AASM reports that nightmares tend to be the most disturbing symptom of PTSD. In these dreams patients may relive a traumatic event in a way that seems shockingly real. View other common signs of PTSD.

In January the Sleep Education Blog reported that the U.S. Defense Department rejected the idea of awarding Purple Hearts to soldiers who have PTSD. Read the full report.

SRS Installs New Leaders, Honors Award Recipients

Dr. Clifford Saper, the James Jackson Putnam professor of neurology and neuroscience at Harvard Medical School and chairman of the Harvard Department of Neurology at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, was welcomed as the 2009 – 2010 president of the Sleep Research Society during the SRS General Membership Meeting this afternoon at SLEEP 2009.

Saper said that in the year ahead the SRS will continue to meet the educational needs of its diverse membership, promote the development of young scientists, encourage involvement in the membership sections, and support research grants for members through the SRS Foundation. He also announced that two of his personal goals as SRS president will be to marshal long-term grant support for the sleep field and to help forge a national network for sleep clinical studies.

Earlier in the meeting the 2009 – 2010 SRS board of directors was introduced. Joining Saper as officers are past president Dr. Michael Vitiello, president-elect Dr. James Walsh, and secretary-treasurer Dr. Ronald Szymusiak.

Dr. David Rye, Dr. Gina Poe and Dr. Sean Drummond were introduced as newly elected directors at large, and Sara Nowakowski was welcomed as the new trainee member at large.

Then past president Dr. Eric Nofzinger, Dr. Ronald Chervin, Dr. Susan Redline, and trainee Eliza Van Reen were recognized for completing their terms on the board of directors.

The meeting also included the recognition of outgoing Membership Committee chair Dr. Bob Strecker, and a report from secretary-treasurer Szymusiak. Then Vitiello presented the 2009 SRS Young Investigator Award to three members: Dr. Sara Aton, Dr. Georgina Cano and Dr. Thien Thanh Dang-Vu

Vitiello followed with his president’s report, highlighting SRS initiatives from the past year. He then gave Saper a gavel to symbolize the transfer of leadership.

Ethnicity and Sleep Disorders

A symposium taking place until 12:15 p.m. Pacific Time is focusing on the associations between ethnicity and sleep disorders. Topics of discussion include current research in sleep health disparities and etiological differences in ethnic groups.

A study in the Jan. 1 issue of the journal SLEEP reported that independent relationships between race and financial strain with sleep were observed despite statistical adjustment for other factors. Sleep was worse in African-American women than Caucasian women; slow wave sleep differences also were observed between Chinese and Caucasian women.

A 2008 study in the journal SLEEP reported that the prevalence of periodic limb movements in sleep was lower in African Americans than in Caucasians.

A 2008 study in the journal Ethnicity & Disease reported that blacks, Hispanics, and Asians were less likely than whites to report frequent sleep insufficiency.

The AASM also reports that in younger age groups, obstructive sleep apnea has been reported to be more prevalent in African Americans compared with Caucasians.

You can download the SLEEP 2009 abstract supplement as an 11 MB file in PDF format.

Increased Brain Activation Helps Insomniacs Maintain Daytime Performance

A study (# 0779) being presented this afternoon as an oral presentation used functional MRI to show that adults with primary insomnia have increased cerebral activation relative to good sleepers during a working memory task.

Differences appeared particularly in areas responsible for visual-spatial attention and coordination of cognitive processes. Compared with good sleepers, people with primary insomnia also showed significantly faster reaction times for correct responses and no difference in the number of errors committed.

Results suggest that people with primary insomnia may compensate for the detrimental effects of poor sleep to maintain adequate daytime performance.

You can download the SLEEP 2009 abstract supplement as an 11 MB file in PDF format.

Discussion of IOM Report on Medical Resident Duty Hours

A discussion group taking place until 12:15 p.m. Pacific Time is reviewing the recommendations made last December by the Institute of Medicine of the National Academies in its report, “Resident Duty Hours: Enhancing Sleep, Supervision, and Safety.”

The IOM report, which was sponsored by the U.S. Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, is a follow-up to the 2003 duty-hour regulations that were established by the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME) for ACGME-accredited residency programs in all 120 ACGME-accredited specialties and subspecialties. The ACGME regulations for medical resident duty hours, which took effect on July 1, 2003, set a weekly limit of 80 hours, averaged over four weeks, and established other provisions to promote adequate rest for residents.

Read the Dec. 2, 2008, statement from the AASM about the IOM”s independent analysis of current duty-hour regulations for medical residents.

The Genetics of Insomnia: Stress & Intrusive Thoughts

A study (# 0781) being presented this afternoon as an oral presentation examines the underlying genetics of insomnia. Results of the twin study show that sleep reactivity to stress may mediate the genetic relation between insomnia and intrusive thinking/ruminative thoughts. The study also found an environmental variance in intrusive thinking that predicts insomnia; this suggests that behavioral treatments could be designed to target specific environmental triggers that promote rumination.

A clinical workshop relevant to this study will take place today from 10:15 a.m. to 12:15 p.m. Pacific Time. “Arousal-reducing and Cognitive Techniques in the Treatment of Insomnia” will include discussions on progressive relaxation techniques for insomnia and constructive worry treatment strategies for intrusive thinking.

You can download the SLEEP 2009 abstract supplement as an 11 MB file in PDF format.

Nightmares & Other Parasomnias

Two studies being presented later this morning as posters focus on parasomnias – undesirable physical events or experiences that occur during entry into sleep, within sleep or during arousals from sleep.

One study (#0600) reports that the prevalence of parasomnia symptoms in patients with obstructive sleep apnea is higher than the prevalence rates of individual parasomnias in the general population. Of 537 adult participants with OSA, 51 (9.5 percent) had at least one type of parasomnia complaint; in the general population, the reported prevalence of common parasomnias is 2 percent to 5 percent. The most commonly reported complaints were sleep paralysis, sleep-related hallucinations and symptoms suggestive of REM sleep behavior disorder.

Another study (#1120) found that self-reported nightmares by adult patients seeking emergency psychiatric evaluation uniquely predicted elevated suicidal symptoms. Results indicate that after controlling for depression, the severity of self-reported disturbing dreams and nightmares independently predicted higher scores for suicide ideation as a non-significant trend; insomnia severity scores were no longer associated with suicide ideation after controlling for depression. The results suggest that nightmares may be an acute warning sign and risk factor for suicide.

You can download the SLEEP 2009 abstract supplement as an 11 MB file in PDF format.

Musicians & the Risk for Obstructive Sleep Apnea

A study (#0715) being presented later this morning as a poster examines the risk of obstructive sleep apnea in 847 professional musicians.

Results show that musicians who played a high-resistance wind instrument had a significantly lower risk for OSA, while playing a high-resistance brass instrument such as the trumpet or horn produced no difference in OSA risk. Specifically, musicians who played double-reed woodwind instruments such as the oboe or the bassoon had the lowest risk for OSA, suggesting that these instruments promote “naturalistic” respiratory muscle training. Overall, 29.2 percent of musicians had a high risk for OSA. Risk also was related to the number of hours spent practicing per week.

In January the Sleep Education Blog reported on the theory that playing a wind instrument makes the muscles in the upper airway stronger, thus preventing soft tissue in the throat from collapsing and blocking the airway during sleep. The theory gained support from a small study in 2006 in the British Medical Journal. Results show that daytime sleepiness and sleep apnea severity improved in participants who played the didgeridoo.

Another study in the June issue of Sleep Medicine, however, found that wind players were more likely (odds ratio 1.47) than non-wind players to be at high risk for OSA; but this association was no longer statistically significant (adjusted odds ratio 1.12) after adjusting for age, body mass index, and gender. The researchers surveyed 1,111 orchestra members, including 369 wind instrument players.

You can download the SLEEP 2009 abstract supplement as an 11 MB file in PDF format.

Sleep & Pregnancy

A symposium taking place from 8 a.m. to 10 a.m. Pacific Time is focusing on “Sleep Issues in Pregnancy.” Issues being discussed include alterations in sleep patterns, sleep disturbances and disorders, the impact of sleep problems on maternal-fetal and perinatal outcomes, and management options for sleep problems in pregnancy.

The AASM reports that pregnancy-related sleep disorders can include snoring and obstructive sleep apnea, restless legs syndrome and leg cramps.

Learn more about sleep and pregnancy on SleepEducation.com.

Teen Bedtimes Associated with Suicide, Depression & Grades

Two studies being presented as posters later this morning examine the negative impact of late bedtimes on teens.

One study (#1064) suggests that parental-mandated bedtimes could help protect teens from depression and suicidal thoughts by lengthening sleep duration. Results show that adolescents with parental-mandated bedtimes at midnight or later were 25 percent more likely (adjusted odds ratio 1.25) to suffer from depression and 20 percent more likely (adjusted odds ratio 1.20) to have suicidal ideation compared with adolescents who had parental-mandated bedtimes of 10 p.m. or earlier. Multivariate models show that sleep duration may have acted as a mediator of these associations; thus short sleep may be a risk factor for depression and suicidal ideation.

Another study (#0161) shows that being a “night owl” or “evening type” – preferring to go to bed late at night and wake up later in the day – is associated with lower academic performance in college and a decline in academic performance from college to high school. Results indicate that evening types had significantly lower first year college GPA (2.84) than “morning types” and “intermediate types” (3.18). They also slept on average 41 minutes less on school nights. For all students, “sleep hygiene” was related to academic performance.

You can download the SLEEP 2009 abstract supplement as an 11 MB file in PDF format.

Obstructive Sleep Apnea in Non-Obese Patients

The major predisposing factor for obstructive sleep apnea is excess body weight. But a study (#0565) being presented as a poster later this morning confirms a high prevalence of OSA in non-obese, adult patients who were referred to a sleep center for overnight polysomnography; the primary cause for referral was a complaint of excessive daytime sleepiness.

Each patient was 18 years of age or older; 57 percent were men. Patients were considered non-obese if they had a body mass index (BMI) of 18.5 to 27. Results show that OSA was diagnosed in 2,906 of the 5,426 non-obese patients (54 percent) who were evaluated by polysomnography at one of 18 sleep centers.

You can download the SLEEP 2009 abstract supplement as an 11 MB file in PDF format.

Wired Teens, Sleep Loss & Obesity

A study (#0320) being presented as a poster later this morning shows that excessive use of technology by children and teens may be related to both sleep loss and obesity. The study involved 320 students between the ages of 10 and 18 years. Results show that children who had more hours of “screen time” (TV, Internet, computer and video games) got less sleep and consumed more caffeine. Having a shorter sleep duration was associated with a higher body mass index (BMI).

A similar study (#0200) was presented yesterday and published in the June issue of the journal Pediatrics. Read a summary of the study on the Sleep Education Blog.

You can download the SLEEP 2009 abstract supplement as an 11 MB file in PDF format.

Treating Insomnia without Drugs

Two studies being presented as posters later this morning show that non-pharmacological treatments for insomnia can be effective.

One study (#0821) concludes that when applied in a “real world” clinical setting, cognitive behavioral therapy for insomnia appears to be an effective treatment approach for various types of chronic insomnia such as sleep-onset insomnia and sleep-maintenance insomnia. Treatment produced significant improvements on presenting complaints as well as other measures such as sleep efficiency, average nightly awakenings, total sleep time and average nights of sleep medication use per week.

A small pilot study (#0874) involving 11 adults with chronic primary insomnia shows that another effective behavioral intervention may be Kriya Yoga – a type of meditation that combines different yoga techniques. Results indicate that sleep latency, total sleep time, total wake time, wake after sleep onset, sleep efficiency, sleep quality and depression improved in patients who practiced meditation for two months.

In 2006 the American Academy of Sleep Medicine published, “Practice Parameters for the Psychological and Behavioral Treatment of Insomnia: An Update” in the journal SLEEP. View the practice parameters online.

You can download the SLEEP 2009 abstract supplement as an 11 MB file in PDF format.

Primary Insomnia Linked to a Neurochemical Abnormality

A study (#0768) being presented this afternoon as an oral presentation demonstrates a specific neurochemical abnormality in adults with primary insomnia, providing greater insight to the limited understanding of the condition’s pathology.

Results indicate that gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA), the most common inhibitory transmitter in the brain, is reduced by nearly 30 percent in individuals with primary insomnia. These findings suggest that primary insomnia is a manifestation of a neurobiological state of hyperarousal. Approximately 25 percent of people suffering from insomnia are considered to have primary insomnia, which is defined as a difficulty falling asleep or maintaining sleep in the absence of coexisting conditions.

The research team also published their study results in the November 1, 2008, issue of the journal SLEEP. Read the AASM press release.

The principal investigator of the study, Dr. John Winkelman of Brigham and Women’s Hospital, a teaching affiliate of Harvard Medical School in Boston, Mass., will chair a related symposium later this morning at 8 a.m. Pacific Time. The symposium, “Neurobiological Correlates of Insomnia,” will explore the neurophysiologic features of insomnia.

You can download the SLEEP 2009 abstract supplement as an 11 MB file in PDF format.

Insomnia Linked to Diabetes Risk

A study (#0866) being presented later this morning as a poster indicates that insomnia with short sleep duration is associated with an increased risk of diabetes. Yesterday the same research team presented an abstract (#0868) showing that chronic insomnia with objective short sleep duration in men also is associated with an increased risk for mortality.

In the April 1 issue of the journal SLEEP, the researchers also published a study showing that chronic insomnia with objectively measured short sleep time is an independent and clinically significant risk factor for hypertension. Read an AASM press release about the study.

According to the authors, these results indicate that objective sleep duration may predict the medical severity of chronic insomnia, and they suggest that the medical impact of insomnia has been previously underestimated.

You can download the SLEEP 2009 abstract supplement as an 11 MB file in PDF format.

Day Two of SLEEP 2009 Will Begin at 8 a.m. Pacific Time

The second day of the SLEEP 2009 scientific program will begin in about three hours at 8 a.m. Pacific Time.

The day will begin with six symposia from 8 a.m. to 10 a.m. Research abstracts will be presented as posters from 10:15 a.m. to 12:15 p.m. A variety of other sessions will take place throughout the day until 4:45 p.m.

View today’s session schedule.

First Day of SLEEP 2009 Wrapping Up

The final session of oral presentations for the first day of SLEEP 2009 is underway and will conclude at 4:45 p.m. Pacific Time.

Some American Academy of Sleep Medicine section members will be in section meetings from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m.

Day two of the scientific program will begin with six symposia at 8 a.m. Pacific Time on Tuesday.

Lecture Addresses Sleep & the Military

Invited lecturer Dr. Thomas J. Balkin, chief of the department of behavioral biology at the Walter Reed Army Institute of Research, is speaking this afternoon on “Science for the Sleepy Soldier.” He is focusing on the problems faced by soldiers during continuous military operations.

Earlier this year the U.S. Army Medical Command proposed changes to current Army sleep guidelines. The draft proposal recommends that U.S. soldiers in combat zones get seven to eight hours of sleep each night; current guidelines suggest that soldiers get at least four hours of sleep each day when deployed. Read a report on the Sleep Education Blog.

Another report on the Sleep Education Blog indicates that the U.S. Navy is taking a high-tech approach in addressing issues related to sleep cycles and sleep deprivation. It is testing the Fatigue Avoidance Scheduling Tool software, or FAST. This system helps predict performance over time based on sleep and work schedules. Read the full report.

AASM Installs New Leaders, Honors Young Investigators

Dr. Clete Kushida was installed as president of the American Academy of Sleep Medicine during the AASM General Membership Meeting this afternoon at SLEEP 2009.

Kushida, acting medical director of the Stanford Sleep Disorders Clinic and director of the Stanford Center for Human Sleep Research, was introduced by outgoing president Dr. Mary Susan Esther.

Kushida vowed that under his leadership the AASM would remain committed to meeting the needs of its diverse membership, and he highlighted some of the issues that he intends to prioritize as president.

These include advancing evidence-based practices in the field of sleep medicine, developing collaborations and scientific networks to take advantage of research funding opportunities, exploring new ways to introduce the field of sleep to young students and scientists, working together with other international sleep organizations to increase the availability of educational resources for sleep specialists in other countries, and giving sleep specialists a voice in national discussions on health-care reform.

Earlier in the meeting the entire AASM board of directors for 2009-20010 was introduced. Joining Kushida as officers are past president Esther, president-elect Dr. Pat Strollo, and secretary-treasurer Dr. Nancy Collop.

Dr. Timothy Morgenthaler, Dr. Steven Shea and Dr. Nathaniel Watson were introduced as newly elected directors at large; and Dr. Lee Brown, Dr. Alex Chediak and Dr. Michael Silber were recognized for completing their terms on the board of directors.

After a report from Secretary-Treasurer Collop, Esther presented the 2009 AASM Young Investigator Award to Dr. Rakesh Bhattacharjee form the University of Louisville; honorable mention went to Dr. Mark Brown, Dr. Irma Rukhadze, Dr. Shadab Rahman and Dr. Siobhan Banks.

Esther then recognized the recipients of the 2009 AASM membership section awards: Dr. Will Pigeon, Dr. Christopher Lettieri, Dr. Lisa Meltzer, Mark Smith, Dr. Peter Franzen and Dr. Mari Viola-Saltzman.

Kushida gave an update on the initiatives of the American Sleep Medicine Foundation, which has awarded nearly $3 million in grants since 2000 to support sleep research. Esther followed with the president’s report, highlighting recent initiatives advanced by the AASM in the areas of academic sleep medicine, sleep research and clinical sleep medicine. She then presented the president’s gavel to Kushida to symbolize the transfer of leadership.

Experts Discuss Sleep Disturbances Related to Traumatic Brain Injury

In a clinical workshop taking place this morning at SLEEP 2009, chair Dr. Michael Russo and a faculty of experts are presenting, “Sleep, Wake and Traumatic Brain Injury.” The workshop focuses on sleep symptoms and sleep disorders that are associated with mild traumatic brain injury.

A relevant study published in the April 15 issue of the Journal of Clinical Sleep Medicine found that treating sleep disorders in adults with TBI may result in the objective resolution of the sleep disorder without improvements in daytime sleepiness or neuropsychological function. Read an AASM press release about the study.

A 2007 study in the Journal of Clinical Sleep Medicine reported that a full spectrum of common sleep disorders occurs in patients with chronic TBI – including obstructive sleep apnea, insomnia, hypersomnia, narcolepsy, periodic limb movements and parasomnias such as REM sleep behavior disorder.

A clinical workshop is a forum for clinicians to review and discuss clinical challenges in sleep medicine, or to present and discuss controversial clinical topics and difficult clinical situations. Over the next three days there will be seven clinical workshops at SLEEP 2009.

Keynote Address, Award Presentations Open SLEEP 2009

The SLEEP 2009 plenary session was a successful beginning to the 23rd Annual Meeting of the Associated Professional Sleep Societies LLC. The session featured a keynote address from Dr. Howard Roffwarg on “Participation of REM Sleep in the Development of the Brain: Starting Hypothesis, Unfolding Data, Current Perspective.” Roffwarg is professor of psychiatry and human behavior, and director of the departmental division of sleep medicine, at the University of Mississippi Medical Center in Jackson, Miss.

After Program Committee Chair Dr. Michael Sateia opened the plenary session, American Academy of Sleep Medicine President Dr. Mary Susan Esther came forward to present the 2009 AASM Awards. The first recipient to be recognized was Dr. Sateia of Dartmouth Medical School and Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center, who received the Nathaniel Kleitman Distinguished Service Award for the many contributions he has made to the AASM since becoming a member in 1990.

Esther presented the William C. Dement Academic Achievement Award to Dr. David White of Harvard Medical School, who is the former editor of the journal SLEEP and current chief medical officer for Philips Respironics Inc. The Mark O. Hatfield Public Policy Award was presented to Dr. Alejandro Chediak of Mount Sinai Medical Center in Miami Beach, who was the 2007 – 2008 AASM president. Then the Excellence in Education Award went to Dr. James Rowley of the Wayne State University School of Medicine, who is the chair of the AASM Education Committee.

Sleep Research Society President Dr. Michael Vitiello followed with a presentation of the 2009 SRS Awards. Dr. Barbara Jones of McGill University in Montreal, Quebec, received the Distinguished Scientist Award for her studies of the neural systems involved in sleep and wakefulness.

The Outstanding Scientific Achievement Award was presented to two individuals whose research has led to a greater understanding of the genetic basis for sleep-related movement disorders such as restless legs syndrome: Dr. David Rye of the Emory University School of Medicine and Dr. Juliane Winkelmann of the Technical University Munich in Germany.

Vitiello then presented the Mary A. Carskadon Outstanding Educator Award to Dr. David Dinges of the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, who is editor in chief of the journal SLEEP.

Roffwarg concluded the plenary session with his keynote address.

The Genetics of Insomnia in Children & Teens

A study (#0808) being presented later this morning as a poster examined the genetic heritability of insomnia in a sample of twins. Results show a moderate heritability in children between 8 and 16 years of age, with significant genetic effects shared between insomnia, depression and anxiety. This suggests that overlapping genetic mechanisms may underlie these three disorders and may help explain why insomnia is so common in people who have depression and anxiety.

You can download the SLEEP 2009 abstract supplement as an 11 MB file in PDF format.

Sleep, Diet & Exercise

Two studies being presented today address the relationships between sleep, diet and exercise.

A study (#1277) being presented later this morning as a poster reports the surprising finding that regular daily exercise did not correlate with total sleep time. Instead, the study found that sleep improved after days of low exertion, and better-rested participants got less exercise and had less calorie expenditure. Possible explanations for these unexpected findings include differences in personality types and the influence of job and life stress.

A study (#0385) being presented this afternoon as an oral presentation found that sleep-restricted participants gained weight over the 11 days of the study even though they reported a decrease in appetite, food cravings and food consumption. The results suggest that energy intake still exceeded energy expenditure during sleep restriction in the sedentary environment of the laboratory.

You can download the SLEEP 2009 abstract supplement as an 11 MB file in PDF format.

Improving CPAP Compliance for Sleep Apnea

Two studies being presented as posters later this morning address issues related to patient compliance with continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) therapy for obstructive sleep apnea.

One study (#0582) shows that some problem-solving and coping styles contribute to successful CPAP use. These include seeking advice and information from other people, and creating goal-oriented schedules.

Another study (#0576) shows that a spouse or cohabiting partner’s involvement can help improve CPAP compliance. The most effective methods of helping were “bilateral tactics,” which involve a collaborative effort to work together.

You can download the SLEEP 2009 abstract supplement as an 11 MB file in PDF format.

SLEEP 2009 Program to Begin with the Plenary Session

Final preparations are being made for the start of the SLEEP 2009 scientific program, which begins with the plenary session at 8 a.m. Pacific time.

Representatives from about 120 exhibitors are putting the finishing touches on their booths and displays, which were loaded into the exhibit hall and set up over the weekend. The SLEEP 2009 exhibit hall will open immediately after the plenary session.

Abstract authors who are scheduled for today’s first session of poster presentations are setting up their displays in the viewing room, which will open at 10:15 a.m.

Following the plenary session there will be a full schedule of clinical workshops, discussion groups, abstract presentations, meet–the-professor sessions, invited lectures, symposia and pro/con debates.

View today’s session schedule.

Sleep Extension Improves Performance, Mood of Stanford Tennis Players

A small study (#0469) being presented later this morning as a poster adds to the growing body of evidence showing that sleep extension can improve athletic performance.

The study involved five members of the Stanford women’s tennis team. Extending their sleep to 10 hours each night was associated with significant improvements in measures of athletic performance.

They executed a faster sprinting drill and increased their hitting accuracy. Their daytime sleepiness and fatigue also decreased, and their vigor improved.

The results are consistent with similar studies previously conducted with Stanford athletes in other sports. An abstract presented at SLEEP 2008 involved men and women on the Stanford swimming teams.

You can download the SLEEP 2009 abstract supplement as an 11 MB file in PDF format.

Studies Examine Sleep Problems in Children

Two studies being presented today focus on sleep and childhood.

A study (#0304) being presented later this morning as a poster suggests that napping may have a significant influence on young children’s daytime functioning. Results indicate that children between the ages of 4 and 5 who did not take daytime naps were reported by their parents to exhibit higher levels of hyperactivity, anxiety and depression than children who continued to nap at this age.

Another study (#0197) being presented this afternoon as an oral presentation reports that primary care pediatricians may be under-diagnosing sleep disorders in children and teens. Results show that less than four percent of children at 32 primary care pediatric practices were diagnosed with a sleep disorder, which is significantly lower than prevalence rates reported in epidemiological studies.

You can download the SLEEP 2009 abstract supplement as an 11 MB file in PDF format.

The Effect of Technology on Sleep

Research abstracts being presented at SLEEP 2009 are examining how technology affects our sleep.

One study (#1260) being presented later this morning as a poster shows that television viewing is by far the dominant pre-sleep activity, accounting for almost 50 percent of pre-bed time. The authors also published results of their study in the June 1 issue of the journal SLEEP.

Another study (#1271) being presented later this morning as a poster reports that playing video games and computer games can affect sleep. College students who are “excessive” gamers had significantly poorer sleep hygiene and slept less on weekdays than “casual” gamers. Those who claimed to be addicted to gaming slept one hour less on weekdays.

A study (# 0200) being presented this afternoon as an oral presentation shows that many teens stay up too late at night using various technological devices such as a TV, computer, cell phone and MP3 player. Teens who get eight to 10 hours of sleep per night tend to do less technological “multi-tasking” after 9 p.m. The authors also published results of their study in the June issue of the journal Pediatrics. Read a summary of the study on the Sleep Education Blog.

You can download the SLEEP 2009 abstract supplement as an 11 MB file in PDF format.

Sleep, Obesity & Diabetes in Black and White

Three studies being presented later this morning as posters examine the relationship between race and sleep.

One study (#0463) reports that race significantly influences the risk of obesity conferred by short sleep duration, with blacks having a higher risk than whites. Results show that the prevalence of both short sleep and obesity was higher in black Americans than in white Americans.

Another study (#0459) used the same sample to show that both short and long sleepers are at great risk for diabetes. The prevalence of diabetes was 12 percent for blacks and eight percent for whites.

A third study (#1197) shows that whites were more likely to report having excessive daytime sleepiness more than five days per month, but African Americans had a significantly higher risk of daytime sleepiness using the Epworth Sleepiness Scale.

You can download the SLEEP 2009 abstract supplement as an 11 MB file in PDF format.

Insomnia Linked to Mortality

A study (#0868) being presented later this morning as a poster reports that insomnia with short sleep duration in men is associated with increased mortality. In women with insomnia and short sleep duration, the mortality risk was increased but not statistically significant.

In the April 1 issue of the journal SLEEP, the same research team also published a study showing that chronic insomnia with objectively measured short sleep time is an independent and clinically significant risk factor for hypertension. Read an AASM press release about the study.

You can download the SLEEP 2009 abstract supplement as an 11 MB file in PDF format.

SLEEP 2009 Will Begin at 8 a.m. Pacific Time

SLEEP 2009 will begin in about three hours at 8 a.m. Pacific Time. Live updates will be provided throughout the day from the Washington State Convention and Trade Center in downtown Seattle, Wash.

This is the first time that the SLEEP Annual Meeting of the Associated Professional Sleep Societies LLC has been held on the West Coast since 2002, when Seattle also hosted the meeting.

SLEEP 2008 was held in Baltimore, Md., and San Antonio, Texas, will host SLEEP 2010.

Research Will Take Center Stage at SLEEP 2009

Beginning on Monday, June 8, more than 1,300 research abstracts will be presented during the scientific program at SLEEP 2009, showcasing the latest findings in sleep research from around the world.

The majority of the abstracts will be on display as poster presentations from 10:15 a.m. to 12:15 p.m. Pacific Time, Monday, June 8, to Wednesday, June 10. Each poster will be displayed for one day only. Abstract authors will be available at their posters to discuss their findings with meeting attendees.

Select abstracts will be presented as brief oral presentations during scheduled sessions from Monday, June 8, to Thursday, June 11. Sessions involve a common theme and consist of either four abstract presentations during a one-hour session, or eight presentations during a two-hour session. Each oral presentation is 10 minutes long and is followed by five minutes of questions from the audience.

Eight “late-breaking abstracts” were selected for presentation during a special session from 10:15 a.m. to 12:15 p.m. on Thursday, June 11. These oral presentations involve high-quality, emerging data found between December 2008 and March 2009.

The abstracts being presented at SLEEP 2009 were recently published in a special supplement of the journal SLEEP. You can download the abstract supplement as a 11 MB file in PDF format.

SLEEP 2009 will begin with the plenary session from 8 a.m. to 10 a.m. Pacific Time on Monday. Look for live updates to be posted to the SLEEP 2009 blog until the meeting ends at 12:15 p.m. on Thursday, June 11.

Invited Lectures Headline SLEEP 2009 Scientific Program

At SLEEP 2009 from Monday, June 8, to Wednesday, June 10, nine experts in sleep science and sleep medicine will present their recent research findings as invited lectures. Each presentation will take place from 1:30 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. Pacific Time on the day scheduled:

Monday, June 8

“Science for the Sleepy Soldier” by Thomas J. Balkin, PhD

“Glial Modulation of Sleep” by Philip G. Haydon, PhD

“Neural Injury in Sleep Apnea: Fixing What You Can Patient by Patient” by Sigrid C. Veasey, MD

Tuesday, June 9

“Polysomnography: What Does it Accomplish and How Can We Make it Better?” by Ronald D. Chervin, MD

“Sleep in Posttraumatic Stress Disorder” by Anne Germain, PhD

“Neurotransmitters, Organization and Activity of Sleep-wake Neural Systems” by Barbara E. Jones, PhD

Wednesday, June 10

“Improving Treatments for Chronic Insomnia and Sleep Disturbance in Bipolar Disorder” by Allison G. Harvey, PhD

“What Does Circadian Complexity Imply about the Regulation of Sleep” by Michael Menaker, PhD

“Neurobiology of Narcolepsy: What Sleepy Mice can Teach Us about Sleepy People” by Thomas E. Scammell, MD

Note: No invited lectures are scheduled for Thursday, June 11.

Podcast Previews the SLEEP 2009 Scientific Program

A recent episode of the Sleep Radio podcast discussed SLEEP 2009 with Dr. Michael Sateia, the chair of the Associated Professional Sleep Societies (APSS) Program Committee.

He presents an overview of the meeting and provides an insider’s perspective of the research that will be presented during the scientific program.

Listen to the podcast on the Sleep Radio Web site.