Newsletter #78: Enhancing Sleep with Wearable Technology 🌛
Hello Friends!
Welcome to the latest edition of the humanOS newsletter! Here is where we share our work, plus the various studies and media that caught our attention this week. 🤓
This Week’s Research Highlights
🔥 Higher levels of polyphenols in the blood are associated with reduced markers of systemic inflammation.
Researchers performed a cross-sectional data analysis on 315 participants in the European Prospective Investigation into Cancer and Nutrition (EPIC) cohort, who provided measurements of plasma polyphenols and high sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP). In multivariable-adjusted model, the sum of plasma concentrations of all polyphenols measured was associated with 29% lower odds of elevated hsCRP. When the researchers looked at specific polyphenols, they found statistically significant associations for daidzein, alkylresorcinol, ferulic acid, caffeic acid, and hydroxytyrosol.
😴 Less than half of US children get enough sleep during the week, and it may affect academic performance.
Researchers analyzed responses from parents and caregivers of 49050 school aged children (6-17 years) in the combined 2016-2017 National Survey of Children’s Health. The researchers found that only 47.6% of children were getting sufficient sleep (defined as nine or more hours). Furthermore, adequate sleep was associated with several markers of flourishing. For example, compared to those who didn’t get enough sleep, children who got nine hours of sleep most weeknights had 44% increased odds of interest in learning new things, 33% increased odds of doing all required homework, 14% increased odds of working to finish tasks started.
🧓 The burden of sustained economic hardship may accelerate the aging process.
Researchers examined physical capability, cognitive function, and inflammation levels in 5575 middle-aged individuals. These findings were compared with income data for every subject throughout the previous 22 years. Participants who spent four or more years of their adult life in relative poverty (60% below the median income) performed significantly worse in tests of physical capability (grip strength, ability to sit down and get back up out of a chair), and in memory and cognition. They also showed higher levels of C-reactive protein, suggesting higher systemic inflammation.
🦠 The composition of the gut microbiome and sleep physiology are linked to one another.
Researchers had participants wear actigraphs to track sleep and activity patterns for thirty days. They also collected fecal samples for gut microbiome analysis, as well as saliva samples to measure immune system biomarkers. They found that total microbiome diversity was positively correlated with increased sleep efficiency and total sleep time, and was negatively correlated with wake after sleep onset. They also found a positive correlation between total microbiome diversity and interleukin-6, a cytokine that is strongly linked with sleep physiology.
New humanOS Content
🔬 On this episode of humanOS Radio, Dan talks with Daniel Gartenberg. Daniel has a Ph.D in Human Factors and Applied Cognition from George Mason University, and is an adjunct assistant professor at Penn State University.
😴 His current research is focused upon accurately tracking sleep quality through wearable technology. But he doesn’t just want to measure it - he wants to make it better. Dan is particularly interested in using technology to enhance slow wave sleep (also known as deep sleep), by manipulating temperature, light, and sound.
🎧 In this interview, the two Dans discuss how sleep is studied in a clinical study, how sleep monitoring devices have advanced over the past ten years, potential pitfalls in how these devices are used, ways to augment deep sleep and REM sleep, and much more. To learn about the future of consumer technology and sleep enhancement, check out the podcast!
Podcasts We Loved This Week
- Matthew Walker: AMA featuring short sleep mutants, optimal sleep environment, sleep apnea, & rapid fire questions. Via The Drive with Peter Attia.
- Matt McCarthy: The Plague Years. Via Making Sense with Sam Harris.
- Ian Dunican, Stu Phillips, Eric Helms, Andrew Chappell, Nanci Guest, Jozo Grgic: Caffeine, Coffee, and Impacts on Strength, Endurance, and Body Composition with 6 World Experts. Via Dr Bubbs Performance Podcast.
Products We Are Enjoying
This device is remarkably versatile - functioning as a rice cooker, pressure cooker, and steamer all in one. It’s also energy-efficient, super easy to use, and can cook things like legumes, grains, potatoes, tubers, etc. really fast without requiring much effort on your end. Perfect for making soups and stews as the weather gets colder in the Northern hemisphere.
humanOS Catalog Feature of the Week
Want to watch this course with us this week? First lesson is just over two and a half minutes. Not yet a Pro user of humanOS? No sweat, this initial module is available for everyone, so give it a shot.