Research

A meta-analysis of 57 brain-imaging studies found that sleep disorders converge on structural changes in the thalamus — an attention and information-filtering hub — while parasomnias like sleepwalking carry a distinct signature in a region tied to motivation.

Researchers have identified tryptamine as a sleep-promoting signal released by wake-active neurons. The molecule acts through the GPR139 receptor in the hypothalamus, and synthetic GPR139 agonists improved sleep duration and quality in animal models — pointing toward a fundamentally new class of sleep medication.

Data from more than 2,000 young people in the Future of Families study shows that sleep problems measured at age 15 — by both wearable devices and self-report — predicted higher rates of hospitalization and worse health by age 22.

A phase 2 trial of alixorexton in 93 patients with narcolepsy type 2 met both primary endpoints, marking the first time an orexin receptor agonist has shown clinically meaningful benefit in patients without known orexin deficiency. The data, being presented at SLEEP 2026, could reshape how researchers understand and treat the disorder.

A Nature Neuroscience study shows that inducing NREM sleep-like cortical patterns in awake mice restores synaptic function and memory performance, demonstrating that key restorative benefits of sleep can be triggered without the animal actually falling asleep.

The FDA is expected to rule by June 20 on TRN-257, a controlled-release oxybate that contains just 80 mg of sodium per dose — compared to 1,640 mg in the original Xyrem — and requires only one dose at bedtime instead of a disruptive middle-of-the-night second dose.

A new study in the Journal of Proteome Research reveals that 10 metabolites in saliva change after a night of total sleep deprivation, enabling a machine learning model to detect sleep loss with 94% accuracy — a potential breakthrough for roadside testing and occupational safety.

New research published in Neuropsychopharmacology reveals that caffeine selectively restores social memory circuits in the hippocampus disrupted by sleep deprivation, rather than broadly boosting alertness.

The FDA has granted priority review to oveporexton, a first-in-class orexin receptor agonist for narcolepsy type 1. Phase 3 trials showed the drug restored normal wakefulness in 85% of participants and reduced cataplexy attacks by more than 80%, with an approval decision expected in the third quarter of 2026.

A new study using Framingham Heart Study data found that a brain health score derived from a single night of sleep brain-wave recordings at midlife predicted cognitive performance an average of 12.6 years later.

A preclinical study presented at the AACR Annual Meeting found that chronic sleep deprivation altered gut microbiota composition in mice, worsening colorectal cancer progression and reducing the effectiveness of 5-FU chemotherapy — and that these effects transferred to healthy animals via microbiota transplant alone.

Eli Lilly's agreement to acquire Centessa Pharmaceuticals for up to $7.8 billion marks the largest deal yet in the race to develop orexin agonists — a new class of drugs that could replace or supplement current narcolepsy treatments by restoring the brain's natural wakefulness signals.

Johns Hopkins researchers found that older adults with stronger, more consistent daily rest-activity rhythms had larger memory-related brain regions and slower atrophy over time, with effects most pronounced in adults over 75.

A randomized crossover trial published in Nature Communications provides the first direct human evidence that the brain's glymphatic system clears Alzheimer's-linked proteins during sleep — and that one night of sleep deprivation measurably impairs the process.

A new study from Oregon Health & Science University found that regularly getting less than seven hours of sleep is more strongly associated with shorter lifespan than poor diet, lack of exercise or social isolation.