New research has found that there are five different types of sleep, each with unique brain activity and different effects on human health and behavior. Scientists believe these findings could lead to more precise treatments for depression and anxiety, as each type of sleep correlates with different aspects of lifestyle, mental and physical health, and cognitive function.
The Independent writes about this.
Study co-author Aurora Perrault from Concordia University said the results demonstrate the importance of a comprehensive sleep assessment. Understanding all aspects of sleep helps doctors more accurately assess patients’ conditions and tailor treatment, she says. The dominance of mental health markers in most profiles is not surprising, since sleep is one of the key areas of human functioning that influences the psyche.
Previous studies were mainly limited to analyzing one parameter of sleep – for example, its duration – and linking this to a person’s psychological state. The new work, covering data from more than 750 participants, took into account a wide range of factors associated with sleep quality and patterns.
As a result, scientists identified five sleep profiles.
The first type is characterized by generally poor sleep, which is accompanied by worsening mental health, including depression, anxiety and stress. The second type also demonstrates stable poor sleep, but without significant psychological problems; it is associated, for example, with impaired concentration.
The remaining three profiles are more specific. One of them is associated primarily with sleep duration: short sleep was correlated with worse cognitive function. Each profile corresponds to a specific pattern of brain activity. Thus, in people with the first type of sleep, there was an increased interaction of neurons in the subcortical areas of the brain, which are responsible for memory, emotions, pleasure, as well as body movements and attention.
Scientists are confident that understanding individual sleep profiles will allow doctors to provide more personalized support and prescribe treatment, focusing on the specific characteristics of each patient.
Previously, Cursor reported the minimum number of steps per day required to prolong life.
