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In the News

  • How to Safely Manage Jet Lag May 21, 2026

    A travel writer tested an app which purports to help head off jet lag, which experts have noted gets tougher as we get older. “The evidence shows that it is harder to acclimate as we get older,” said Indira Gurubhagavatula, MD, MPH, a professor of Sleep Medicine. “Our circadian clock and its responsiveness to light gets weaker, and the amount of melatonin generated under dim light also decreases with age.” Tags: washington_post top_tier sleep_medicine Penn_Sleep_Center indira_gurubhagavatula travel circadian_rhythm EH FY26 2026 Q4 May

  • This Experimental Molecule Reversed Established Memory Loss in Alzheimer's Studies May 20, 2026

    A compound called 4-phenylbutyrate (PBA) restored memory function and reduced signs of Alzheimer’s disease in mice. Nirinjini Naidoo, PhD, a research associate professor of Sleep Medicine, said the treatment appears to work by improving overall brain cell health and reducing the buildup of harmful proteins linked to the disease. Researchers emphasized that the findings are still preliminary and have not yet been tested in humans. Tags: futura pba Alzheimer's_disease sleep_medicine Nirinjini_Naidoo communications_placement press_release EH FY26 2026 Q4 May

  • How Socks Can Help You Sleep May 20, 2026

    Most of us tend to sleep better when we are cooler: cozied up in a dark, cool room. And while it may sound confusing, wearing socks is one way to keep your body cooler while sleeping. "When we warm up our feet by wearing socks, the blood vessels under the skin dilate not just in the feet but everywhere," said Indira Gurubhagavatula, MD, MPH, a professor of Sleep Medicine "This vasodilation allows warm blood to come to the surface, and as it keeps circulating and coming to the skin, body heat is shed, and core body temperature eventually drops...which signals the brain to get ready for sleep," she added. Tags: washington_post top_tier sleep_medicine Penn_Sleep_Center indira_gurubhagavatula EH FY26 2026 Q4 May

  • Debating the Health Impacts of Ending Daylight Saving Time April 30, 2026

    Pennsylvania legislators are debating the merits of a permanent return to standard time, which Indira Gurubhagavatula, MD, MPH, a professor of Sleep Medicine, said is supported by science. Data from the Centers for Disease Control shows Americans are chronically sleep deprived and losing an hour of sleep each spring is significant. She noted that daylight saving time is followed by reports of more heart attacks, strokes, hospital admissions, emergency room visits, injuries, accidents, and exhaustion. Tags: penn_capital_star indira_gurubhagavatula sleep_medicine Penn_Sleep_Center daylight_saving_time EH FY26 2026 Q4 apri

  • Is It Healthier to Sleep With the Window Open? April 18, 2026

    It’s finally springtime, which might mean you’re tempted to start sleeping with your bedroom window open—but an open window can affect the temperature and humidity in your room, and pests could get in without a window screen. “By opening the window, you let the outside in,” said Mathias Basner, MD, PhD, professor of Sleep and Chronobiology in Psychiatry. If you do decide to crack open the window, open your bedroom door too so air circulates better, Basner suggested. Tags: Health mathias_basner sleep_medicine chronobiology psychiatry EH FY26 2026 Q4 April

  • Five Ways You’re Sabotaging Your Sleep April 13, 2026

    Caffeine is one way we may be unknowingly and negatively impacting our sleep, as everyone metabolizes it differently, said Indira Gurubhagavatula, MD, MPH, a professor of Sleep Medicine. For some people, caffeine can remain in their bloodstream for a few hours, but for others, it can linger, which can affect the quality of their sleep, she said. Gurubhagavatula tells her coffee-drinking patients who don’t feel rested to cut back gradually. Then, as hard as it is to do, stay off coffee for two weeks. “And if you’re waking up feeling much more rested, you have your answer,” she said. Tags: new_york_times sleep_medicine indira_gurubhagavatula Penn_Sleep_Center communications_placement EH FY26 2026 Q4 April

  • 1f6a What Happens When Your Family Sleeps With Green Noise April 08, 2026

    The #greennoise hashtag on TikTok has surpassed 1.1 million views. Green noise is a mid-frequency sound profile centered around 500 Hz that mimics nature sounds like ocean waves, gentle rain and rustling leaves. A February study led by Mathias Basner, MD, PhD, professor of Sleep and Chronobiology in Psychiatry found that broadband noise played at 50 dB reduced REM sleep by nearly 19 minutes per night. Tags: mathias_basner psychiatry sleep_medicine pink_noise chronobiology communications_placement press_release EH FY26 2026 Q4 april

  • The Impact of Having Space In Space April 07, 2026

    The Artemis space mission, while blasting humans further into space than ever before, does not have the luxury of space for the crew to move around as in earlier, shorter missions. Mathias Basner, MD, PhD, professor of Sleep and Chronobiology in Psychiatry, who previously researched the health impacts of travel aboard the International Space Station, noted the importance of having our own space. "Particularly for longer missions, individuals need to be able to find alone time to reflect." Tags: podcast bbc mathias_basner sleep_medicine chronobiology artemis space_flight psychiatry EH FY26 2026 Q4 April

  • Staying Awake Past Midnight Could Push You Toward Bad Decisions — Here's What the Science Shows - Futura-Sciences April 06, 2026

    After midnight, something shifts in the human brain. Negative thoughts sharpen, risky behavior becomes more appealing and the inhibitions that hold impulses in check begin to loosen. Suicides are also statistically more likely during nighttime hours, according to Michael Perlis, PhD, associate professor of psychiatry, after adjusting for the number of people awake at any given time. Tags: futura michael_perlis sleep_medicine sleep behavioral_sleep_medicine_program EH fy26 2026 Q4 April

  • Missing From Most Doctor-Patient Talks: Sleep Issues April 06, 2026

    Even though most folks know it's key to good health, sleep often goes undiscussed during doctor visits, a new survey finds. Almost half of adults said they never talk about sleep quality with their doctor, according to a poll from the American Academy of Sleep Medicine (AASM). “Sleep disorders like insomnia and sleep apnea are often underdiagnosed because medical conversations about sleep simply never start," said Indira Gurubhagavatula, MD, MPH, a professor of Sleep Medicine. Tags: HealthDay indira_gurubhagavatula sleep_medicine sleep american_academy_of_sleep_medicine EH fy26 2026 Q4 April

  • What's Actually the Best Way to Get a Good Night's Sleep? We Asked Scientists April 02, 2026

    Philip Gehrman, PhD, an associate professor of clinical Psychology in Psychiatry, joined Giz Asks to share ways people can get a better night's sleep. "The tips that I always give people are about routine and regularity. It’s trying to follow a regular schedule. A regular wake-up time seems to be more important than a regular bedtime but just trying to be consistent. That’s always the hardest to sell when I say that I mean weekends, too." Tags: Gizmodo philip_gehrman sleep_medicine psychiatry circadian_rhythm communications_placement EH fy26 2026 Q4 April

  • Pink Noise Worsens Sleep Quality When Used to Block out Traffic and City Noise March 31, 2026

    Pink noise, which is often used to promote sleep, may reduce restorative REM sleep and interfere with sleep recovery. In contrast, earplugs were found to be significantly more effective in protecting sleep against traffic noise, according to a study led by Mathias Basner, MD, PhD, professor of Sleep and Chronobiology in Psychiatry. Tags: psy_post pink_noise sleep_medicine mathias_basner psychiatry chronobiology press_release communications_placement EH FY26 2026 Q3 March

  • Waking Up in Pain? Your Sleep Position May Need Adjusting. March 31, 2026

    Sleep position is just one of many factors that contributes to overall sleep quality. According to Indira Gurubhagavatula, MD, MPH, a professor of Sleep Medicine, while there is no single "right" way to sleep, maintaining a consistent sleep schedule, getting adequate exercise and keeping your bedroom dark and cool are all important. But, she added, if getting a good night’s sleep can be “as simple as turning onto your side, then why not try it?” Tags: new_york_times top_tier sleep_medicine indira_gurubhagavatula psychiatry EH FY26 2026 Q3 March

  • White Noise vs Brown Noise: What’s the Best Sound for Sleeping? March 26, 2026 1644

    Research led by Mathias Basner, MD, PhD, professor of Sleep and Chronobiology in Psychiatry, is cited in a piece on the various types of broadband noise colors. The study found that pink noise, often promoted as a sleep aid, may negatively affect brain activity and essential sleep stages. Tags: popular_science sleep_medicine psychiatry chronobiology mathias_basner pink_noise communications_placement press_release EH FY26 FY2026 Q3 March

  • Why Sleep is Critically Important For Every Aspect of Your Health March 24, 2026

    Many people turn to sleep aids or have a drink to relax before bed. Though alcohol may help to relax, but as the alcohol burns off in the middle of the night, "your brain is now dealing with the withdrawal of alcohol, so it goes to a lighter stage of sleep," said Indira Gurubhagavatula, MD, MPH, a professor of Sleep Medicine. "You then wake up and could feel still tired or in a fog...so it's not really effective in the long-term." Tags: yoga_with_jake sleep_medicine indira_gurubhagavatula alcohol EH FY26 2026 Q3 March