Dreams turned off and on with a neural switch

In dream or REM sleep, brain activity is more like awake than non-REM activity, and muscles are paralyzed. Various regions of the brain affect REM sleep, but neuroscientists have found a group of neurons in the medulla that seem to play a key role. Activating them makes mice go immediately into REM sleep, while inactivating them abolishes it. REM control could be useful for researchers studying the function of sleep in animals.

Originally published at http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2015/10/151015120128.htm

'Paleo' sleep? Sorry, pre-modern people don't get more Zzzzs than we do

It's tempting to believe that people these days aren't getting enough sleep, living as we do in our well-lit houses with TVs blaring, cell phones buzzing, and a well-used coffee maker in every kitchen. But new evidence reported in Current Biology on Oct. 15 shows that three ancient groups of hunter-gatherers -- living in different parts of the world without any of those trappings of modern life -- don't get any more sleep than we do.

Originally published at http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2015/10/151015131832.htm

Sleep deprivation affects stem cells, reducing transplant efficiency, study finds

Drowsy mice make poor stem cell donors, according to a new study. Although the research was done in mice, the findings have possible implications for bone marrow transplants, more properly called hematopoietic stem cell transplants, in humans.

Originally published at http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2015/10/151014084829.htm

How the brain controls sleep

Neuroscientists have discovered a brain circuit that can trigger small regions of the brain to fall asleep or become less alert, while the rest of the brain remains awake. The researchers believe this may help the brain consolidate new memories by coordinating slow waves between different parts of the brain, allowing them to share information more easily.

Originally published at http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2015/10/151013182735.htm

Red wine with dinner could help Type 2 diabetics

Drinking a glass of red wine with dinner may improve the heart health of people with type 2 diabetes, according to researchers. But the same benefits were not seen with white wine.

Read the rest at http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-3270056/Red-wine-dinner-help-Type-2-diabetics-Moderate-consumption-led-sufferers-achieve-better-blood-sugar-control-good-cholesterol.html?ITO=1490&ns_mchannel=rss&ns_campaign=1490

A wafer could banish the need for daily insulin jabs for diabetics

A wafer that sticks to the inside of the cheek could banish the need for daily insulin jabs in people with diabetes.

Read the rest at http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-3269830/The-wafer-mean-end-daily-insulin-jabs-New-technology-help-patients-dislike-using-needles.html?ITO=1490&ns_mchannel=rss&ns_campaign=1490

The transatlantic drugs divide: Patients in the US pay THREE TIMES more for drugs than those in the UK

Researchers at the University of Liverpool found the trend affected the top 20 drugs sold in 2014, including those for breast, brain and lung cancer as well as diabetes and arthritis.

Read the rest at http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-3269835/The-transatlantic-drugs-divide-Patients-pay-THREE-TIMES-drugs-UK.html?ITO=1490&ns_mchannel=rss&ns_campaign=1490