SLEEP 2010

Full SLEEP 2010 Coverage at the Sleepeducation Blog

2010-06-04T16:05:00.003-05:00

Sleep medicine’s flagship event kicks off at the Henry B. Gonzalez Convention Center in San Antonio next Monday. This year the full SLEEP 2010 coverage will be on the Sleepeducation blog.

More than 1,100 new abstracts will be on display at SLEEP 2010. Our team has looked over the entire list and identified some of the studies that stand out. We’ll be posting articles about each of these abstracts as they are presented at the annual meeting. Before you read about these studies in the news you be able to read them right here.

Our team will also be armed with cell phones Tweeting from the floor of the Henry B. Gonzalez Convention Center. Follow us at twitter.com/aasmorg.

Our coverage will run Monday through the final presentations Wednesday evening.

Find the Sleepeducation Blog at sleepeducation.blogspot.com.

For more information on SLEEP 2010 go to the official website.

Winner of AASM High School Writing Contest to Attend SLEEP 2010

2009-10-02T09:16:00.008-05:00

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

2009-06-11T14:17:00.000-05:00

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

2009-06-11T13:01:00.000-05:00

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

2009-06-11T12:03:00.000-05:00

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?

2009-06-11T11:04:00.000-05:00

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

2009-06-11T10:04:00.000-05:00

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

2009-06-11T09:05:00.000-05:00

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

2009-06-11T07:58:00.000-05:00

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

2009-06-11T07:02:00.001-05:00

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

2009-06-10T16:55:00.000-05:00

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

2009-06-10T15:07:00.000-05:00

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

2009-06-10T14:05:00.000-05:00

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

2009-06-10T13:02:00.000-05:00

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

2009-06-10T12:05:00.000-05:00

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

2009-06-10T10:57:00.000-05:00

“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

2009-06-10T10:01:00.000-05:00

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

2009-06-10T09:34:00.000-05:00

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

2009-06-10T09:02:00.000-05:00

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

2009-06-10T08:30:00.000-05:00

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

2009-06-10T07:55:00.000-05:00

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

2009-06-10T07:28:00.001-05:00

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

2009-06-10T07:01:00.000-05:00

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

2009-06-09T17:59:00.000-05:00

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

2009-06-09T15:55:00.000-05:00

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

2009-06-09T15:35:00.000-05:00

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

2009-06-09T13:31:00.000-05:00

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

2009-06-09T13:02:00.000-05:00

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

2009-06-09T12:27:00.000-05:00

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

2009-06-09T12:01:00.000-05:00

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

2009-06-09T11:30:00.001-05:00

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

2009-06-09T10:49:00.000-05:00

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

2009-06-09T10:33:00.000-05:00

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

2009-06-09T10:02:00.000-05:00

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

2009-06-09T09:28:00.000-05:00

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

2009-06-09T08:55:00.000-05:00

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

2009-06-09T08:29:00.000-05:00

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

2009-06-09T07:58:00.002-05:00

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

2009-06-09T07:25:00.002-05:00

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

2009-06-09T07:00:00.000-05:00

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

2009-06-08T18:01:00.001-05:00

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

2009-06-08T15:58:00.000-05:00

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

2009-06-08T15:35:00.003-05:00

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

2009-06-08T12:34:00.000-05:00

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

2009-06-08T12:03:00.000-05:00

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

2009-06-08T11:25:00.000-05:00

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

2009-06-08T11:02:00.000-05:00

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

2009-06-08T10:27:00.000-05:00

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

2009-06-08T09:45:00.000-05:00

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

2009-06-08T09:29:00.000-05:00

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

2009-06-08T09:02:00.000-05:00

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

2009-06-08T08:27:00.000-05:00

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

2009-06-08T07:59:00.000-05:00

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

2009-06-08T07:31:00.000-05:00

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

2009-06-08T07:00:00.001-05:00

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

2009-06-07T07:02:00.000-05:00

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

2009-06-06T07:07:00.000-05:00

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

2009-06-05T07:10:00.000-05:00

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.

Welcome to the SLEEP 2009 Blog

2009-05-27T15:55:00.004-05:00

Welcome to the official blog of SLEEP 2009, the 23rd Annual Meeting of the Associated Professional Sleep Societies, a joint venture of the American Academy of Sleep Medicine and the Sleep Research Society.

More than 6,500 sleep specialists, sleep scientists, sleep technologists, allied health professionals and students are expected to attend SLEEP 2009 at the Washington State Convention and Trade Center in downtown Seattle, Wash. The scientific program will begin with the plenary session at 8 a.m. Pacific Time on Monday, June 8.

During the plenary session Dr. Howard Roffwarg will give the keynote address 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.

More than 1,300 research abstracts will be presented at SLEEP 2009. The scientific program also includes symposia, clinical workshops and discussion groups on topics ranging from neuroscience and genetics to dreams, sleep deprivation and aging. Clinical sleep specialists will discuss current practices in the diagnosis and treatment of sleep disorders such as insomnia, narcolepsy, and sleep apnea.

The meeting also features an exhibit hall with booth displays from about 120 pharmaceutical companies, equipment manufacturers, medical publishers, software companies, professional organizations and schools.

Look for live updates to be posted to the SLEEP 2009 blog from the morning of Monday, June 8, until SLEEP 2009 ends at 12:15 p.m. Pacific Time on Thursday, June 11. If you’re unable to attend SLEEP 2009, then this blog will keep you up to date with breaking news and research highlights from Seattle.

SLEEP 2008 Concludes

2008-06-12T11:21:00.000-05:00

The final oral presentations of the day brought SLEEP 2008 to a conclusion at the Baltimore Convention Center in Baltimore, Md.

The SLEEP 2009 23rd Annual Meeting of the Associated Professional Sleep Societies is scheduled for June 6 to 11, 2009, in Seattle, Wash.

Teens Benefit from Delayed School Start Time

2008-06-12T10:04:00.001-05:00

A study (ID# 1118) from Israel that is being presented as an oral presentation this morning at SLEEP 2008 shows that teens may have improved attention and concentration when their school start time is delayed.

The study involved 47 eighth-grade students from two classes. A control group began school at the regular time (7:30 a.m.) each day for two weeks. The experimental group began the schoolday one hour later (8:30 a.m.) during week one and then at the usual time during week two.

During the first week, students in the experimental group woke up an average of 51 minutes later each morning than students in the control group. Bedtime remained the same.

The experimental group performed better than the control group on two cognitive tests that were performed on the fifth day of the first week. They had a better overall attention score on a computerized test and made fewer mistakes on a paper-and-pencil test.

According to the American Academy of Sleep Medicine, teens need a little more than nine hours of sleep each night to be alert the next day.

The SLEEP 2008 abstract book is available online at http://www.journalsleep.org/PDF/AbstractBook2008.pdf.

REM Sleep, Short Sleep Duration & Child Obesity

2008-06-12T09:02:00.002-05:00

A study from the University of Pittsburgh (ID# 0195) that is being presented as an oral presentation this morning at SLEEP 2008 takes a deeper look at the relationship between short sleep duration and obesity. The study concludes that a core aspect of this association may be reduced amounts of rapid eye movement (REM) sleep.

The study involved 335 children and teens between the ages of seven and 17 years. Sleep was measured by polysomnography for three consecutive nights. Compared with normal-weight children, overweight children slept about 22 minutes less per night.

Overweight children also had shorter REM sleep periods, lower REM activity and density, and longer latency to the first REM period. After adjusting for other factors, one hour less of REM sleep increased the risk of being overweight by about three times, while one hour less of total sleep increased the odds of overweight by about two times.

According to the American Academy of Sleep Medicine, the complex process of sleep involves multiple stages that make up a sleep cycle. 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.

The SLEEP 2008 abstract book is available online at http://www.journalsleep.org/PDF/AbstractBook2008.pdf.

Sleep and Suicide in Children and Teens

2008-06-12T08:03:00.001-05:00

Two studies being presented as oral presentation this morning at SLEEP 2008 address the relationship between sleep and suicidal behavior in children.

A study (ID# 0194) of 450 boys and 348 girls examined how children may be affected when a parent has a history of chronic insomnia. The children in the study had an average age of 14.4 years.

Teens with a parental history of chronic insomnia were much more likely to report having suicidal thoughts than teens without a parental history of insomnia (16.7% vs. 5.3%); they also were more likely to have a suicide plan (9.5% vs. 1.5%) and to have attempted suicide (9.5% vs. 1.7%).

Another study (ID# 0180) involved 303 children and teens with bipolar disorder and unipolar disorder during depressive episodes. The children in the study had an average age of 12.8 years.

Results show that 83.8 percent of the children had sleep disturbances. The presence of sleep complaints showed a significant association with suicidal behavior. Children with bipolar disorder were more likely than children with unipolar disorder to report suicidal behaviors with sleep complaints, classified as suicidal thoughts (58% vs. 35.6%), desire to die (58% vs. 31.5%), suicide plans (55.5% vs. 22.3%), and suicide attempt (40.7% vs. 19.8%).

The SLEEP 2008 abstract book is available online at http://www.journalsleep.org/PDF/AbstractBook2008.pdf.

Higher Blood Pressure in Children with Breathing Problems during Sleep

2008-06-12T07:01:00.000-05:00

A study (ID# 0187) being presented as an oral presentation this morning at SLEEP 2008 shows that sleep disordered breathing of any level of severity is associated with increased levels of blood pressure in children.

The Australian study involved 88 children between the ages of seven and 13 years. Twenty of these children were non-snoring controls who were recruited from the community.

Mean arterial pressure (MAP) was lower in the control group both before falling asleep and during sleep. MAP was elevated during sleep in children with either primary snoring, mild obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), or moderate to severe OSA.

More information about obstructive sleep apnea in children is available from the American Academy of Sleep Medicine at http://www.sleepeducation.com/Disorder.aspx?id=71.

Day Three of SLEEP 2008 Comes to a Close

2008-06-11T15:55:00.000-05:00

The scientific program for the third day of SLEEP 2008 concluded with the final symposia and oral presentations of the day.

Some American Academy of Sleep Medicine section members are finishing up their section meetings.

The final day of the scientific program on Thursday will consist of symposia and oral presentations lasting from 8 a.m. to 12:15 p.m. The SLEEP 2008 exhibit hall closed this afternoon and will not be open on Thursday.

Insomnia Linked to Increased Risk of High Blood Pressure

2008-06-11T15:33:00.001-05:00

“The medical impact of chronic insomnia has been underestimated,” said researcher Alexandros Vgontzas at the conclusion of his oral presentation this afternoon at SLEEP 2008.

In a study (ID# 685) of 1,741 men and women from Central Pennsylvania, Vgontzas and colleagues found that having insomnia and a short sleep duration of less than or equal to five hours increased the risk of high blood pressure by five times. Having insomnia and sleeping for five to six hours made individuals three times more likely to have high blood pressure. Without a complaint of insomnia, short sleep duration of less than or equal to five hours increased the risk of high blood pressure by only 1.5 times.

Sleep time was recorded during one night in a sleep laboratory. “Insomnia” was defined as a complaint of insomnia for more than or equal to one year.

Vgontzas, of Hershey Medical Center in Hershey, Pa., indicated that these results show that insomnia with a short sleep duration may raise the risk of high blood pressure at a rate that is similar to obstructive sleep apnea.

The SLEEP 2008 abstract book is available online at http://www.journalsleep.org/PDF/AbstractBook2008.pdf.

Symposium Examines Causes of Drowsy Driving

2008-06-11T14:28:00.000-05:00

A symposium taking place this afternoon at SLEEP 2008 is examining the contributing factors related to drowsy driving. Co-chairs Dr. Naomi Rodgers and Dr. Kenneth Wright Jr., along with a faculty of experts, are presenting the latest information.

According to the U. S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, drowsy driving is a cause of at least 100,000 auto crashes each year. These crashes injure an average of 40,000 people and result in more than 1,550 deaths; the NHTSA suggests that the actual numbers are much higher.

Drowsy-driving crashes tend to occur late at night, are likely to be serious, often involve a single vehicle leaving the roadway, and tend to involve a driver who is alone in the vehicle. In addition to veering off the road, drowsy drivers are likely to wander into another lane or steer into oncoming traffic.

Sleep loss is an obvious factor in drowsy driving. Studies show that sleep deprivation impairs drivers in a manner that is comparable to alcohol, causing lapses in attention and slowing critical reaction times.

Other factors such as late or irregular work shifts, poor sleep habits and untreated sleep disorders such as obstructive sleep apnea and narcolepsy can combine to make anyone vulnerable to drowsy driving. Young men in their teens and 20s are more likely to be involved in a drowsy-driving crash.

According to the American Academy of Sleep Medicine, tips to avoid drowsy driving include getting a full night of sleep before a long drive and pulling off the road to take a nap if you begin to feel sleepy.

Lecturer Discusses Restless Legs Syndrome

2008-06-11T13:01:00.000-05:00

This afternoon at SLEEP 2008, invited lecturer Dr. Christopher Earley is giving a presentation entitled, “Restless Legs Syndrome: From the Bed to the Bench and Back Again.” Earley will review the current understanding of RLS and discuss areas of potential for future research.

Earley is associate professor of neurology and associate director of the Sleep Disorders Center at Johns Hopkins School of Medicine. For more than 15 years his research has focused on RLS.

In 2007 new studies added to the research that is cracking the complex genetic code behind RLS. According to the American Academy of Sleep Medicine, iron, dopamine and genetics appear to be the primary factors in the development of RLS.

RLS involves a strong, almost irresistible urge to move the legs that worsens at night and disturbs your ability to fall asleep or remain asleep. It occurs more often in women than in men.

Snack Attack: Short Sleep Promotes an Increase in Snacking

2008-06-11T11:02:00.001-05:00

A study (ID# 0355) being presented as a poster presentation this afternoon at SLEEP 2008 shows that people who restrict their sleep are likely to increase the amount of snacks they eat. The authors conclude that this behavior may contribute to the increased risk of weight gain and obesity associated with short sleep hours.

The study involved 11 healthy volunteers with an average age of 39 years. Caloric intake was monitored for 14 days when sleep was restricted to 5.5 hours in bed each night, and for 14 days of 8.5 hours in bed each night.

Results show that meal intake remained similar in the two conditions, but subjects consumed more energy from snacks during the period of sleep restriction. The carbohydrate content of snacks also increased during restricted sleep.

Energy expenditure was comparable during the two sleep conditions, as were the levels of leptin and ghrelin, two hormones involved in appetite regulation.

According to the American Academy of Sleep Medicine, most adults need about seven to eight hours of sleep each night.

The SLEEP 2008 abstract book is available online at http://www.journalsleep.org/PDF/AbstractBook2008.pdf.

Internet, Aerobic Exercise May Help People with Insomnia

2008-06-11T10:31:00.001-05:00

Two studies being presented as poster presentations this morning at SLEEP 2008 offer hope to those who suffer from insomnia.

A study (ID# 0716) of 44 participants shows that a self-help program delivered via the Internet can significantly improve insomnia in adults. Individuals in the study group had an average age of 45 years, and 77 percent were women.

Participants reported having an average of five nights per week of sleep difficulties for about 10 years. The study involved a six-week, structured, interactive, self-guided, and tailored intervention that took traditional face-to-face cognitive behavioral therapy and transformed it for delivery via the Internet.

Results show that sleep improved significantly over the six-week period. Sleep efficiency (i.e., the percentage of time in bed spent sleeping) improved from 66 percent to 88 percent. The average nightly total sleep time of the participants increased by 80 minutes.

Another study (ID# 0737) of 36 adults with chronic primary insomnia suggests that moderate aerobic exercise can help people with insomnia get some sleep.

The study involved 28 women and 8 men with an average age of 44 years. Results show that a 50-minute session of moderate aerobic exercise on a treadmill improved numerous measures of sleep quality. It decreased sleep onset latency (i.e., the amount of time it takes to fall asleep) by 54 percent and decreased wake time in bed by 36 percent after the exercise session.

The session of moderate aerobic exercise, which began at 6 p.m., also increased total sleep time by 21 percent and increased sleep efficiency by 18 percent.

Similar results were not achieved with either heavy aerobic exercise or moderate strength exercise. Heavy aerobic exercise involved three periods of 10 minutes of exercise on a treadmill alternating with 10 minutes of rest. Strength exercise lasted about 50 minutes and involved: shoulder press, chest press, vertical traction, leg press, leg curl, leg extension, abdominal crunch and lower back.

The SLEEP 2008 abstract book is available online at http://www.journalsleep.org/PDF/AbstractBook2008.pdf.

Children Who Snore Have Higher Heart Rates

2008-06-11T10:03:00.000-05:00

A study (ID# 0253) being presented as a poster presentation this morning at SLEEP 2008 shows that snoring has a significant impact on the cardiovascular functioning of children during sleep.

The study involved 40 children with an average age of 8 years. Children with severe obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) had the highest average heart rate of 92 beats per minute (bpm). Children with primary snoring had an average heart rate of 82 bpm, which was higher than children with moderate OSA (76 bpm) and children with mild OSA (74 bpm). The heart rate of matched controls was 71 bpm.

The abstract authors conclude that these results challenge the notion that snoring is harmless.

According to the American Academy of Sleep Medicine, the incidence of snoring in children is reported to be 10 percent to 12 percent.

The SLEEP 2008 abstract book is available online at http://www.journalsleep.org/PDF/AbstractBook2008.pdf.

Is Sleep the Secret to Successful Aging for Women?

2008-06-11T09:30:00.000-05:00

A study (ID# 0305) being presented as a poster presentation this morning at SLEEP 2008 reinforces the importance of normal sleep for the healthy aging of women.

The study involved 2,226 women who were 60 years of age or older. Nearly 21 percent of the women were determined to be “successful agers.” Measures of successful aging included independent living, active engagement with life, life satisfaction and well-being, freedom from disability and the absence of physical disease.

Women who reported less sleep disturbance on an insomnia rating scale were more likely to be successful agers. Successful aging was best predicted by less daytime napping and fewer complaints of sleep maintenance insomnia (i.e., when awakenings occur during the night).

An increased severity of sleep disturbance predicted lower self-ratings of “successful aging” and a greater difference between perceived and actual age.

According to the American Academy of Sleep Medicine, women tend to describe sleep problems using different terms than men. Women may be less likely to say that they feel sleepy during the day. Instead women often describe feeling tired, unrested or fatigued. They also may report an overall lack of energy or vitality.

The SLEEP 2008 abstract book is available online at http://www.journalsleep.org/PDF/AbstractBook2008.pdf.

Workshop Looks Back at Historic 2007 Certification Exam

2008-06-11T08:58:00.000-05:00

A workshop taking place this morning at SLEEP 2008 is taking a look back at the historic certification examination in sleep medicine that was administered by member boards of the American Board of Medical Specialties in November 2007.

Although certification for sleep specialists has been available for more than 25 years, this was the first time that the exam was administered under the umbrella of the ABMS. The exam was offered by the American Board of Internal Medicine, the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology, the American Board of Pediatrics, the American Board of Family Medicine and the American Board of Otolaryngology. The exam will continue to be offered every two years.

The workshop chair is Dr. Stuart Quan, who will review both the development of the exam content and the results from the 2007 exam.

The American Academy of Sleep Medicine administered a certification examination in sleep medicine from 1978 to 1990, giving specialists in sleep medicine an opportunity to prove their expertise in the diagnosis and treatment of patients with sleep disorders.

The AASM then voted to create the independent American Board of Sleep Medicine, and the ABSM assumed responsibility for the exam from 1991 to 2006.

Child Sleep Patterns around the World

2008-06-11T07:05:00.001-05:00

A study (ID# 0185) being presented as an oral presentation this morning at SLEEP 2008 compares the sleep patterns of young children from 12 different countries. Results are based on questionnaires completed by the parents of 21,273 infants and toddlers from zero to 36 months of age.

The study indicates that young children in predominately Caucasian countries have earlier bedtimes and obtain more overall sleep than young children in predominately Asian countries. No differences were found in night wakings or napping behaviors.

Children in New Zealand went to bed the earliest with an average bedtime of 7:16 p.m. Children in Hong Kong went to bed the latest with an average bedtime of 10:10 p.m. U.S. children had an average bedtime of 8:52 p.m.

Japanese children had the lowest total sleep time (i.e., nightly sleep plus daytime naps) of 11.6 hours of sleep per day. Children in New Zealand had the highest total sleep time of 13.3 hours of sleep. U.S. children averaged 12.9 hours of total sleep time per day.

Seventy-six percent of Chinese parents perceived that their child has a small or severe sleep problem. Only 11 percent of parents in Taiwan responded similarly.

According to the American Academy of Sleep Medicine, newborns up to three months of age need about 16 to 20 hours of total sleep time per day, while infants between three and 12 months old need 14 to 15 hours of total sleep time. Toddlers between the ages of one and four years need about 12 to 14 hours of total sleep time.

The SLEEP 2008 abstract book is available online at http://www.journalsleep.org/PDF/AbstractBook2008.pdf.

Second Day of SLEEP 2008 Comes to a Close

2008-06-10T15:59:00.000-05:00

The scientific program for the second day of SLEEP 2008 concluded with the final symposia and oral presentations of the day.

Some American Academy of Sleep Medicine section members are finishing up their section meetings.

Day three of the scientific program will begin at 8 a.m. on Wednesday with symposia and brief oral presentations. Wednesday also is the final day for the SLEEP 2008 exhibit hall.

Neck Size a Predictor of OSA in Children

2008-06-10T14:00:00.001-05:00

A study being presented as an oral presentation this afternoon at SLEEP 2008 describes the link between neck size and obstructive sleep apnea in children.

The study examined the records of 242 children between two and 18 years of age. The actual neck size of each patient was adjusted for age to obtain the child’s percent deviation from predicted neck size (DPN).

DPN showed a high correlation with apnea-hypopnea index (AHI), a measure of the severity of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). DPN showed a higher association with AHI than did body mass index (BMI) or tonsil size.

These results show that DPN may provide a more anatomically specific risk factor for OSA in children than obesity measures such as BMI.

According to the American Academy of Sleep Medicine, OSA occurs in about two percent of young children. It can develop in children at any age, but it is most common in preschoolers. OSA often occurs between the ages of 3 and 6 years when the tonsils and adenoids are large compared to the throat.

SRS Welcomes New Leaders, Recognizes Award Recipients

2008-06-10T12:33:00.000-05:00

Dr. Michael Vitiello, a researcher with 20 years of experience studying the neuroscience of sleep and aging, was installed as president of the Sleep Research Society during the SRS General Membership Meeting this afternoon at SLEEP 2008.

Vitiello, professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences at the University of Washington in Seattle, was introduced by outgoing president Dr. Eric Nofzinger after he described some of the significant achievements made by the SRS in the past year. Nofzinger then gave Vitiello a gavel to symbolize the transfer of leadership.

Vitiello elicited laughter with his characteristic sense of humor, but became serious when describing the challenges sleep scientists face in securing funding for their research. He said that in the next year the SRS will continue to advocate for the funding of, and infrastructure development for, sleep research and training.

He added that the SRS will continue to make an impact on the professional development of its members by enhancing career entry, career development, and professional education at all levels in sleep science and sleep medicine.

Earlier in the meeting the entire SRS board of directors for 2008 – 2009 was introduced. Joining Vitiello as officers are past president Nofzinger; Dr. Clifford Saper, who rotates from director-at-large to president-elect; and Dr. Ronald Szymusiak, a newly elected member of the board of directors who will serve as secretary-treasurer.

Dr. Mark Opp, Dr. Thomas Kilduff, Dr. Sharon Keenan and Dr. James Walsh were recognized for completing their terms on the board of directors, and Dr. Janet Mullington, Dr. Thomas Scammell, and Dr. Terri Weaver were introduced as newly elected directors at large. Dr. Eliza Van Reen will replace Dr. Tracy Rupp as the trainee member-at-large.

The meeting also included the recognition of several SRS award recipients. Thomas Penzel, PhD, received the Bill Gruen Award for the highest-rated abstract in the instrumentation category.

Three members received the SRS Young Investigator Award: Antoine Adamantidis, PhD; Esra Tasali, MD; and Vladyslav Vyazovskiy, PhD. Honorable mention went to David M. Raizen, MD, PhD.

Benefits of Receiving Care at AASM-Accredited Sleep Centers

2008-06-10T10:59:00.000-05:00

Two studies being presented as poster presentations today at SLEEP 2008 describe benefits of receiving medical care from American Academy of Sleep Medicine-accredited sleep centers and from board certified sleep specialists.

One ongoing study (ID# 1069) of 243 patients at four participating sleep centers found that patients cared for by AASM-accredited centers and board-certified physicians received better education than patients cared for by non-accredited centers and non-certified physicians.

One-hundred percent of study subjects at AASM-accredited centers reported receiving adequate education about obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). At non-accredited sites, 83.5 percent of study subjects reported receiving adequate education about OSA.

AASM Standards for Accreditation require that accredited sleep centers have on staff at least one board-certified sleep specialist. Initial results of this study were published in the Journal of Clinical Sleep Medicine in 2006.

Another study (ID# 1073) of 55 patients shows that access to specialized services with close follow up in an AASM-accredited sleep center can make a significant difference in treatment success. Each of the patients had a high risk of failure to comply with continuous positive airway pressure therapy (CPAP) for OSA. Sixty-one percent of the patients became compliant and were followed up for six months.

Is Circadian Advantage a Home Run for MLB Teams?

2008-06-10T10:34:00.000-05:00

A study funded by Major League Baseball (ID# 0165) that is being presented as a poster presentation this morning at SLEEP 2008 examined the effect of circadian timing on the outcome of MLB games.

The analysis of 24,133 games from 1997 to 2006 found that in 79 percent of the games, both teams were “at home” in the current time zone. In the remaining 5,046 games, the team with the circadian advantage won about 52 percent of the games.

The study found that the magnitude of circadian advantage influenced success. The winning percentage for teams with a three-hour circadian advantage increased to 60.3 percent. The direction in which teams traveled did not appear to influence the outcome of games.

This study is a follow-up to a 2005 study that analyzed the results of MLB games from 2004. That study found that teams performed better traveling eastward than they did traveling westward. The initial research abstract was presented in 2005.

According to the American Academy of Sleep Medicine, jet lag is a circadian rhythm sleep disorder that occurs when a long trip across time zones quickly puts you in a place where you need to sleep and wake at a time that is different than what your internal body clock expects. Symptoms can include disturbed sleep, decreased alertness and impaired functioning.

The SLEEP 2008 abstract book is available online at http://www.journalsleep.org/PDF/AbstractBook2008.pdf.

Do You Sleep Like You Eat?

2008-06-10T10:05:00.000-05:00

Two studies from Brazil that are being presented as poster presentation this morning at SLEEP 2008 address the relationship between your sleep and the food you eat. Both studies involved 52 healthy subjects between the ages of 20 and 45 years.

One study (ID# 0084) found that both total energy intake and late-night snack energy intake are significantly correlated with awakenings during sleep. Both measures of energy intake also were correlated with apnea-hypopnea index, a measurement of the severity of obstructive sleep apnea.

Another study (ID# 0085) found that total fat intake is related to a number of sleep measures, including percentage of REM sleep, arousal index and apnea-hypopnea index. The study also found that fat intake at dinner is associated with sleep measures such as sleep efficiency and REM percentage. The results show that total fat intake and dinner fat intake seem to have a negative influence on the sleep pattern of healthy adults.

The SLEEP 2008 abstract book is available online at http://www.journalsleep.org/PDF/AbstractBook2008.pdf.

Experts Take a Look at Home Sleep Testing

2008-06-10T09:27:00.000-05:00

In a clinical workshop taking place this morning at SLEEP 2008, leaders of the American Academy of Sleep Medicine are providing a detailed analysis of home sleep testing for the detection of obstructive sleep apnea.

The workshop will compare AASM guidelines with a recent decision from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services and will discuss the impact that the CMS decision will have on sleep-medicine providers. There also will be a discussion of current local coverage determination (LCD) policies.

In the December 15, 2007, issue of the Journal of Clinical Sleep Medicine, the AASM published “Clinical Guidelines for the Use of Unattended Portable Monitors in the Diagnosis of Obstructive Sleep Apnea in Adult Patients.”

The guidelines recommend unattended portable monitoring (PM) as a valid option for detecting OSA in adults who have a high pretest probability of moderate to severe OSA, and who have no comorbid medical conditions or sleep disorders that may degrade the accuracy of PM.

The guidelines also recommend that PM testing be administered by AASM-accredited sleep centers and labs and reviewed by a board-certified sleep specialist.

In March 2008 CMS released its “Decision Memo for Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP) Therapy for Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA) (CAG-00093R2).” The decision allows coverage of home sleep testing for the detection of OSA in Medicare beneficiaries.

Sleep Loss, Alzheimer’s and Sleep Apnea

2008-06-10T08:34:00.000-05:00

A study (ID# 0291) being presented as an oral presentation this morning at SLEEP 2008 evaluated 52 older adults who have both Alzheimer’s disease (AD) and obstructive sleep apnea (OSA).

When the study subjects were treated with continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) therapy, the resulting increase in total sleep time was significantly associated with improvements in neurocognitive testing.

No other variables, including changes in oxygenation, were significant. This implies that the cognitive impairment associated with OSA in AD patients may result from short sleep time.

The American Academy of Sleep Medicine reports that the steepest prevalence increase for OSA is in the transition from middle-aged to older-aged adults. According to the National Institute on Aging, up to 4.5 million Americans suffer from AD, which usually begins after the age of 60.

The SLEEP 2008 abstract book is available online at http://www.journalsleep.org/PDF/AbstractBook2008.pdf.

U.S. Veterans Battle Insomnia after Returning from Iraq

2008-06-10T07:28:00.000-05:00

A study (ID# 0697) being presented as an oral presentation this morning at SLEEP 2008 shows that insomnia is a significant problem for combat-exposed U.S. soldiers returning from Iraq.

The study examined the sleep of 14 Operation Iraqi Freedom veterans who have post-deployment adjustment disorders. They were compared with 14 people who have primary insomnia and 14 good sleepers.

The veterans reported much worse sleep quality and sleep efficiency, increased time to fall asleep and wake time after falling asleep, and more nocturnal awakenings than good sleepers. Sleep measures of the veterans were similar to those of the people with primary insomnia.

The veterans also had more severe disruptive nocturnal behaviors than both good sleepers and people with primary insomnia.

A study (ID# 0736) that was presented yesterday as a poster presentation shows that U.S. veterans of the war in Iraq who struggle with insomnia may prefer treatment that combines medications with non-pharmacological approaches such as relaxation therapy. Veterans also preferred receiving therapy through MP3 files and the Internet.

Another study (ID# 0556) presented yesterday as a poster presentation reports that black veterans are significantly less likely than white or Asian veterans to adhere to continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) therapy for obstructive sleep apnea.

The SLEEP 2008 abstract book is available online at http://www.journalsleep.org/PDF/AbstractBook2008.pdf.

Day Two of SLEEP 2008 Begins with a Focus on Heart Health

2008-06-10T07:01:00.000-05:00

The second day of SLEEP 2008 begins with three symposia, one of which focuses on the impact that sleep-disordered breathing has on heart health. The symposium is entitled, “Sleep Disordered Breathing as a Cardiovascular Risk Factor: An Epidemiological Perspective from the Sleep Heart Health Study.”

The ongoing Sleep Heart Health Study, which is sponsored by the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, has contributed significantly to the scientific data showing that sleep-disordered breathing may increase the risk for high blood pressure and cardiovascular diseases such as coronary artery disease and stroke.

According to the NHBI, the study has been renewed several times since it began in 1994, allowing for the collection of more data and follow up. The estimated study completion date is August 2008.

The chair of the symposium is Dr. Stuart Quan of the University of Arizona, one of the principal investigators working on the multi-site study. Dr. Quan is a past president of the American Academy of Sleep Medicine and the editor of the Journal of Clinical Sleep Medicine.

He will be joined by four other experts who will make presentations about the relationship between sleep-disordered breathing and cardiovascular disease, stroke, cardiac arrhythmia and mortality.

First Day of SLEEP 2008 Comes to a Close

2008-06-09T16:01:00.000-05:00

The scientific program for the first day of SLEEP 2008 concluded with the final symposia and oral presentations of the day.

Some American Academy of Sleep Medicine section members are currently in section meetings, and a workshop on Genetics and Sleep also is underway.

Day two of the scientific program will begin at 8 a.m. on Tuesday with symposia and brief oral presentations.

Oral Presentations Describe Research Linking Sleep to ADHD, Suicidal Symptoms

2008-06-09T14:27:00.001-05:00

Research abstracts being presented as oral presentations this afternoon at SLEEP 2008 link sleep problems to attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and suicidal symptoms.

In a study of 882 ninth-grade students (ID# 0321), teens reported sleeping an average of 7.6 hours per school night. According to the American Academy of Sleep Medicine, teens need a little more than nine hours of sleep each night.

Getting less sleep on school nights increased students’ risk of having emotional disturbances and ADHD. Every additional hour of sleep on school nights decreased the risk of emotional disturbance by 25 percent and decreased the risk of ADHD by 34 percent.

In another study of 322 undergraduates at a large university (ID# 0958), sleep quality and insomnia severity were significantly associated with an increased risk of depression. Severe insomnia also was a significant predictor of an increased severity of suicidal thoughts. After controlling for depression, sleep quality and insomnia severity jointly predicted an increased severity of suicidal thoughts.

The SLEEP 2008 abstract book is available online at http://www.journalsleep.org/PDF/AbstractBook2008.pdf.

AASM Installs New Leaders, Honors Young Investigators

2008-06-09T12:33:00.000-05:00

Dr. Mary-Susan Esther was installed as president of the American Academy of Sleep Medicine during the AASM General Membership Meeting this afternoon at SLEEP 2008.

Esther, medical director of The Sleep Center at SouthPark in Charlotte, N.C., was introduced by outgoing president Dr. Alex Chediak after he discussed the initiatives advanced by the AASM in the past year. Chediak then gave her a gavel to symbolize the transfer of leadership.

Esther thanked the members, saying that practicing sleep medicine for more than 20 years has prepared her well for this opportunity. She assured the members that during her term the AASM would continue to be the leading voice representing the interests of sleep specialists and promoting the field of sleep medicine.

Esther emphasized that the AASM would be steadfast in its commitment to setting evidence-based standards for the field, and that it would work even harder to promote the recognition of board-certified sleep specialists and AASM-accredited sleep centers as the leading providers of quality medical care for people with disorders of sleep and alertness.

Earlier in the meeting the entire AASM board of directors for 2008-2009 was introduced. Joining Esther as officers are past president Chediak; Dr. Clete Kushida, who rotates from secretary-treasurer to president-elect; and Dr. Nancy Collop, who assumes the role of secretary-treasurer.

Dr. Rich Berry and Dr. Art Spielman were recognized for completing their terms on the board of directors, and Dr. Safwan Badr and Dr. Sam Fleishman were introduced as newly elected directors at large.

The meeting also included the recognition of Dr. Ehab Dayyat of the University of Louisville, who received the AASM 2008 Young Investigator Award. Honorable mention went to Dr. Fawad Mian, Daniel Kay, Dr. Nabil Al Lawati and Dr. Tracy Rupp.

Blame the Cell Phone, Early School Start Times for Teen Sleep Loss?

2008-06-09T11:02:00.000-05:00

A research abstract being presented as a poster presentation today at SLEEP 2008 provides an interesting explanation for why some teens may not be sleeping well: They spend too much time on the cell phone.

The study of 21 teens (ID# 0249) shows that those who have more than 15 calls and/or 15 text messages a day are more likely to sleep poorly than teens who make less than five calls and/or send five text messages a day.

Excessive cell-phone users are more prone to disrupted sleep, restlessness, stress and fatigue. They also have more trouble waking up in the morning and are more tired before mid-day.

One member of the study group had more than 200 text messages per day. Only one of the 21 participants turned the cell phone off at night.

Another abstract presentation (ID# 0226) addresses a common cause of teen sleep loss: early school start times.

Following a 40-minute delay in the school start time from 7:35 a.m. to 8:15 a.m., students’ total sleep time on school nights increased by 33 minutes per night from 7 hours and 2 minutes to 7 hours and 35 minutes. Students went to bed about eight minutes later at night, but they slept in 41 minutes later in the morning, waking up at 6:53 a.m. instead of 6:12 a.m.

More students reported having “no problem” with sleepiness after the schedule change.

The American Academy of Sleep Medicine recommends that teens get a little more than nine hours of sleep each night to feel alert and well rested during the day.

The SLEEP 2008 abstract book is available online at http://www.journalsleep.org/PDF/AbstractBook2008.pdf.

Sleep Problems Linked to Depression and Anxiety

2008-06-09T10:34:00.001-05:00

Research abstracts being presented as poster presentations this morning at SLEEP 2008 show a link between sleep problems and emotional disturbances.

A study (ID# 0204) compared 122 children who have major depression with 200 healthy peers. Eighty-two percent of depressed children reported a sleep problem, compared to only five percent of controls.

A study of children in grades 2 – 5 (ID# 0269) found that children at risk for sleep-disordered breathing are more likely than their peers to have anxiety (19.7 percent vs. 7.3 percent).

A study of 14 mothers of twins (ID# 0374) shows that more than 70 percent had severe postpartum sleep restriction of less than six hours of sleep in 24 hours. About half of the women also reported mild to severe depression symptoms.

The SLEEP 2008 abstract book is available online at http://www.journalsleep.org/PDF/AbstractBook2008.pdf.

Research Abstracts Examine the Effect of Sleep on School Performance

2008-06-09T10:01:00.002-05:00

Research abstracts being presented as poster presentations this morning at SLEEP 2008 are describing the link between sleep and school performance.

One study (ID# 0199) found that different sleep variables affect the school performance of students in junior high, high school and college. In junior high, the complaint of restless legs/aching legs is more common in students with a lower grade-point average (GPA). Daytime sleepiness is more likely to affect the performance of high school students. Insomnia has the most negative effect on the GPA of college students.

A related study of adult college students (ID# 0709) found that insomnia complaints are significantly associated with lower GPAs. Students with lower GPAs were more likely to have trouble falling asleep, report waking at night and have trouble going back to sleep.

A study of 824 undergraduate students (ID# 0728) found that students who are “morning types” (preferring to wake up early) are more likely to have better grades than students who are “evening types” (preferring to stay up late).

The SLEEP 2008 abstract book is available online at http://www.journalsleep.org/PDF/AbstractBook2008.pdf.

Experts Take a Closer Look at REM Sleep Behavior Disorder

2008-06-09T09:35:00.001-05:00

In a clinical workshop taking place this morning at SLEEP 2008, co-chairs Dr. Carlos Schenck and Dr. Marco Zucconi, along with a faculty of experts, are presenting, “The Diagnosis of REM Sleep Behavior Disorder in the Sleep Lab: Clinical, Video and Polysomnographic Criteria.”

REM sleep behavior disorder (RBD) is a parasomnia that occurs when you act out vivid dreams as you sleep. These dreams are often filled with action and may even be violent, putting both the dreamer and bedpartner at risk of injury.

Schenck is credited with identifying RBD along with Dr. Mark Mahowald, his colleague at the University of Minnesota and the Minnesota Regional Sleep Disorders Center at Hennepin County Medical Center in Minneapolis. They published their findings in the article, “Chronic behavioral disorders of human REM sleep: a new category of parasomnia,” which appeared in the journal Sleep in 1986.

In 2002 Schenck and Mahowald published the article, “REM sleep behavior disorder: clinical, developmental, and neuroscience perspectives 16 years after its formal identification in SLEEP.”

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 2008.

Intriguing Keynote Address, Awards Open SLEEP 2008

2008-06-09T09:05:00.000-05:00

The SLEEP 2008 plenary session was a successful beginning to the 22nd Annual Meeting of the Associated Professional Sleep Societies LLC. The session featured an intriguing keynote address from Dr. J. Allan Hobson on “Sleep, Dreaming and Consciousness – A New Paradigm.” Hobson is a professor of psychiatry at Harvard Medical School in Boston, Mass.

After Program Committee Chair Dr. Michael Vitiello opened the plenary session, Sleep Research Society President Dr. Eric Nofzinger came forward to present the 2008 SRS Awards. Dr. Charles Czeisler of Harvard Medical School received the Distinguished Scientist Award for his studies of circadian timing and the sleep-wake cycle.

The Outstanding Scientific Achievement Award went to three men who played a critical role in the discovery of the suprachiasmatic nucleus as circadian pacemaker: Dr. Robert Moore of the University of Pittsburgh, Dr. Irving Zucker of the University of California-Berkley, and Dr. Friedrich Stephan of Florida State University.

Nofzinger then presented the Mary A. Carskadon Outstanding Educator Award to Dr. Richard Bootzin of the University of Arizona, a pioneer of the behavioral treatment of insomnia.

American Academy of Sleep Medicine President Dr. Alex Chediak followed with a presentation of the 2008 AASM Awards. The Nathaniel Kleitman Distinguished Service Award went to Dr. Conrad Iber of the University of Minnesota for his many contributions to the AASM.

For the next presentation, Dr. Chediak deferred to Dr. William Dement, namesake of the William C. Dement Academic Achievement Award. Dement presented the award to his friend and colleague Dr. Terry Young of the University of Wisconsin-Madison for her work on the landmark Wisconsin Sleep Cohort Study.

Chediak then returned to present the Mark O. Hatfield Public Policy Award to Dr. Neil Kavey of Columbia University, longtime president of the New York State Society of Sleep Medicine.

Following the awards ceremonies was a presentation by Dr. James Kiley, Director of the Division of Lung Diseases in the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute within the National Institutes of Health. He spoke about the NHLBI strategic plan.

Hobson concluded the plenary session with his keynote address.

SLEEP 2008 Program to Begin with the Plenary Session

2008-06-09T06:35:00.000-05:00

Final preparations are being made for the start of the SLEEP 2008 scientific program, which begins at 8 a.m. with the plenary session. The registration desk opened at 6:30 a.m., so a large crowd has already gathered and is assembling in the Baltimore Convention Center ballrooms where the plenary session will take place.

Representatives from more than 150 exhibiting companies and organizations 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 2008 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.

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

Foundations, Grant Recipients are Discovering the Secrets of Sleep

2008-06-08T06:00:00.001-05:00

On the eve of SLEEP 2008, the Sixth Annual Discovering the Secrets of Sleep Fundraising Dinner takes place tonight at 7 p.m. at the Hyatt Regency Baltimore in Baltimore, Md.

Proceeds from the dinner are shared by the Sleep Research Society Foundation and the American Sleep Medicine Foundation. Every dollar raised at the dinner goes directly toward grants that are a part of the sleep research initiatives of the two foundations. During the dinner the recipients of the 2008 grants from each foundation will be recognized.

The Sleep Research Society Foundation is awarding the 2008 J. Christian Gillin, MD, Research Grant to:

Nancy Johnston, DVM – Southern Illinois University School of Medicine
Anna Kalinchuk, PhD – Harvard Medical School
Mirjam Munch, PhD – Harvard University
Yuka Sasaki, PhD – Harvard Medical School

The Sleep Research Society Foundation also is awarding the 2008 Sleep Fellowship Grant to:

Natalia Tulina, PhD – University of Pennsylvania

The American Sleep Medicine Foundation is awarding the 2008 AASM Physician Scientist Training Award to:

Josna Adusumilli, MD – Brigham and Women’s Hospital – Takeda Pharmaceuticals Grant for Sleep Medicine Post-Fellowship Research Year
Ina Djonlagic, MD – Brigham and Women’s Hospital
Mikhail B. Litinski, MD – Brigham and Women’s Hospital
Dennis Hwang, MD – NYU School of Medicine

The SLEEP 2008 scientific program begins with the plenary session at 8 a.m. on Monday.

Research Will Take Center Stage at SLEEP 2008

2008-06-07T06:00:00.002-05:00

Beginning on Monday, June 9, more than 1,150 research abstracts will be presented during the scientific program at SLEEP 2008, showcasing the latest findings in sleep research from around the world.

More than 900 abstracts will be on display as poster presentations from 10:15 a.m. to 12:15 p.m., Monday, June 9, to Wednesday, June 11. Each poster will be displayed for one day only. Abstract authors will be available at their posters to discuss their findings with meeting attendees.

Nearly 250 abstracts will be presented as brief oral presentations during scheduled, one-hour sessions from Monday, June 9, to Thursday, June 12. Sessions involve a common theme and consist of four abstract presentations. Each oral presentation is 10 minutes long and is followed by five minutes of questions from the audience.

Five “late-breaking abstracts” were selected for presentation during a special session from 12:15 p.m. to 1:30 p.m. on Wednesday, June 11. These oral presentations involve high-quality, emerging data found between December 2007 and April 2008.

The abstracts being presented at SLEEP 2008 were recently published in a special supplement of the journal Sleep.

The abstract supplement is available online at http://www.journalsleep.org/PDF/AbstractBook2008.pdf.

Invited Lecturers Headline SLEEP 2008 Scientific Program

2008-06-06T07:00:00.000-05:00

At SLEEP 2008 from Monday, June 9, to Wednesday, June 11, seven experts in sleep science and sleep medicine will present their recent research findings as invited lecturers. Each presentation will take place from 1:30 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. on the day scheduled:

Monday, June 9

“Managing Sleep Apnea – Are We There Yet?” by Ronald R. Grunstein, MD, PhD

“Hypothalamic Regulation of Sleep Onset and Sleep Maintenance” by Ronald S. Szymusiak, PhD

Tuesday, June 10

“Sleep and Circadian Rhythms in Humans: Tales of Translation from the Lab to Practice” by Charles A. Czeisler, PhD, MD

“Treating Insomnia with CBT: Should We Step Up to Stepped Care?” by Colin A. Espie, PhD

“Pediatric Sleep Apnea: A Systemic Inflammatory Disease” by David Gozal, MD

Wednesday, June 11

“Restless Legs Syndrome: From the Bed to the Bench and Back Again” by Christopher J. Earley, MD, PhD

“Not Tonight Honey! - The Effect of Sleepiness on Daily (or Nightly!) Functioning” by Terri E. Weaver, PhD, RN

Note: No invited lectures are scheduled for Thursday, June 12.

Historic Breakthroughs Set Stage for Today’s Sleep Research

2008-06-05T06:00:00.001-05:00

More than 1,150 scientific abstracts will be presented at SLEEP 2008, displaying the latest findings in sleep research. This research follows the historic discoveries made in previous years by sleep scientists. These are some of the milestones in the history of sleep research, courtesy of the American Sleep Medicine Foundation:

1875 – Caton records the brain electrical activity of animals in England.
1880 – Gelineau describes a group of patients in France with a problem he names “narcolepsy.”
1929 - Berger discovers and reports the “electroencephalogram (EEG) of man” in Germany.
1937 – Loomis documents the EEG patterns of what is now called non-rapid eye movement (NREM) sleep.
1945 – Ekbom describes restless legs syndrome in Sweden.
1953 – Kleitman and Aserinsky at the University of Chicago describe the rapid eye movement (REM) stage of sleep and propose a correlation with dreaming.
1957 – Dement and Kleitman describe the repeating stages of the human sleep cycle.
1966 – Gastaut and colleagues in France, and Jung and Kuhlo in Germany discover obstructive sleep apnea (OSA).
1972 – Studies pinpoint the suprachiasmatic nuclei (SCN) as the site of the biologic clock.
1981 – Sullivan and colleagues use continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) to treat OSA.
1986 - Schenck, Mahowald and colleagues publish the first formal description of REM sleep behavior disorder (RBD).
1989 – Rechtschaffen and colleagues find that total sleep deprivation results in the death of all rats within two to three weeks.
1999 – Studies show that hypocretin mutations cause narcolepsy in mice and dogs.
2000 – Mignot and colleagues at Stanford discover that human narcolepsy also is associated with hypocretin deficiency.

Recognition of Sleep Medicine as a Medical Subspecialty

2008-06-04T06:00:00.002-05:00

The field of sleep medicine has grown significantly since 700 people attended the first SLEEP annual meeting in June 1986 in Columbus, Ohio. Today sleep medicine is recognized as an independent medical subspecialty. Here are some milestones in the development of the field of sleep medicine:

1964 - The first sleep disorders center opens as a narcolepsy clinic at Stanford.
1975 – Blue Shield of California begins reimbursing patients for sleep services.
1975 – The Association of Sleep Disorders Centers is formed (later to become the American Academy of Sleep Medicine)
1977 – American Academy of Sleep Medicine (AASM) grants accreditation to a sleep center for the first time.
1978 – AASM begins board certification for sleep specialists.
1989 – AASM begins to accredit fellowship training programs in sleep medicine.
1995 – American Medical Association (AMA) recognizes sleep medicine as a self-designated practice specialty.
1997 – AMA grants the AASM a seat in its House of Delegates.
1997 – Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME) accredits the AASM as a sponsor of continuing medical education for physicians.
2003 – Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME) formally recognizes sleep medicine as an independent subspecialty.
2004 – ACGME approves program requirement for residency education in sleep medicine training.
2006 – Number of sleep centers and laboratories accredited by the AASM surpasses 1,000.
2007 – The board examination in sleep medicine is administered for the first time by member boards of the American Board of Medical Specialties.

Source: Shepard JW, Buysse DJ, Chesson AL, et al. History of the development of sleep medicine in the United States. J Clin Sleep Med 2005;1:61-82.

Exhibit Hall to be a Highlight of SLEEP 2008

2008-06-03T06:00:00.002-05:00

In addition to its scientific program of research presentations and educational sessions, SLEEP 2008 features an exhibit hall with booth displays from more than 150 pharmaceutical companies, medical equipment manufacturers, publishers, software distributors and educational providers.

Exhibitors at SLEEP 2008 will showcase products such as sleep medications, diagnostic equipment used for sleep studies, and therapeutic devices such as continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) units and masks.

Of particular interest this year will be unattended portable monitoring systems that can be used for home sleep testing. A recent decision by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services approved the use of home sleep testing for the diagnosis of obstructive sleep apnea in Medicare beneficiaries.

Many of the products on display are used in the diagnosis and treatment of people with sleep disorders. It is estimated that 50 million to 70 million people in the U.S. suffer from a chronic sleep disorder, and the majority of them have not been diagnosed or treated. There are 81 sleep disorders classified in the International Classification of Sleep Disorders, 2nd Edition (American Academy of Sleep Medicine, 2005).

The SLEEP 2008 exhibit hall will be open to registered attendees from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Monday, June 9, and Tuesday, June 10; and from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Wednesday, June 11.

Welcome to the SLEEP 2008 Blog

2008-06-02T09:00:00.000-05:00

Welcome to the official blog of the SLEEP 2008 22nd Annual Meeting of the Associated Professional Sleep Societies, a joint venture of the American Academy of Sleep Medicine and the Sleep Research Society.

More than 5,000 sleep specialists, sleep scientists, sleep technologists, allied health professionals and students are expected to attend SLEEP 2008 at the Baltimore Convention Center in downtown Baltimore, Md. Some attendees will arrive early for postgraduate courses on Saturday, June 7, and Sunday, June 8. Then the scientific program begins with the plenary session at 8 a.m. on Monday, June 9.

During the plenary session Dr. J. Allan Hobson will give the keynote address on “Sleep, Dreaming and Consciousness – A New Paradigm.” Hobson is a professor of psychiatry at Harvard Medical School in Boston, Mass.

The SLEEP Meeting blog will be updated daily with pre-meeting announcements up until Monday, June 9. Then live updates will be posted multiple times a day until the meeting ends at 12:15 p.m. on Thursday, June 12.

If you’re unable to attend SLEEP 2008, then this blog will keep you up to date with breaking news and highlights from Baltimore.