Context: Insufficient sleep is associated with increased cardiometabolic risk. Alterations in hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis may underlie this link.
Objective: Our objective was to examine the impact of restricted sleep on daytime profiles of ACTH and cortisol concentrations.
Methods: Thirteen subjects participated in 2 laboratory sessions (2 nights of 10 hours in bed versus 2 nights of 4 hours in bed) in a randomized crossover design. Sleep was polygraphically recorded. After the second night of each session, blood was sampled at 20-minute intervals from 9:00 am to midnight to measure ACTH and total cortisol. Saliva was collected every 20 minutes from 2:00 pm to midnight to measure free cortisol. Perceived stress, hunger, and appetite were assessed at hourly intervals by validated scales.
Results: Sleep restriction was associated with a 19% increase in overall ACTH levels (P < .03) that was correlated with the individual amount of sleep loss (rSp = 0.63, P < .02). Overall total cortisol levels were also elevated (+21%; P = .10). Pulse frequency was unchanged for both ACTH and cortisol. Morning levels of ACTH were higher after sleep restriction (P < .04) without concomitant elevation of cortisol. In contrast, evening ACTH levels were unchanged while total and free cortisol increased by, respectively, 30% (P < .03) and 200% (P < .04). Thus, the amplitude of the circadian cortisol decline was dampened by sleep restriction (-21%; P < .05). Sleep restriction was not associated with higher perceived stress but resulted in an increase in appetite that was correlated with the increase in total cortisol.
Conclusion: The impact of sleep loss on hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal activity is dependent on time of day. Insufficient sleep dampens the circadian rhythm of cortisol, a major internal synchronizer of central and peripheral clocks.
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http://dx.doi.org/10.1210/jc.2013-4254 | DOI Listing |
Brain Sci
January 2025
School of Cognitive Psychotherapy, Association of Cognitive Psychotherapy, 00185 Rome, Italy.
Background/objectives: Based on previous data reporting the status of health professionals' training about sleep clinical psychophysiology, insomnia, and its treatment in the US and Canada, this paper aims at providing a snapshot of the Italian situation, considering health professionals qualified to offer cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT). Adding information on different countries is important, as national health systems differ significantly, and distinct evidence-based pathways for change may be proposed.
Methods: Two hundred and thirteen CBT professionals (180 females; 33 males) answered a 5 min survey about their training and experience in recognizing and treating behavioral sleep disorders in their practice.
Eur J Psychotraumatol
December 2025
Faculty of Medical and Health Sciences, University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand.
: Individuals impacted by adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) are at greater risk of developing obesity, however, few studies have prospectively measured ACEs and obesity during childhood. Associations with the adoption of obesogenic behaviours during childhood, which directly contribute to obesity are also understudied.: To examine associations between individual and cumulative ACEs, obesity, and obesogenic behaviours during childhood.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFSleep Med X
December 2025
Research Group 'Chronobiology, Nutrition and Health' of Federal University of Alagoas, Maceió, Alagoas, Brazil.
Objective: To examine the influence of latitude, longitude, sunrise, and daylight, in conjunction with individual and behavioral factors, on sleep duration, wake time, and bedtime in a country with the world's broadest latitude range, yet characterized by homogeneity in language, cultural traits, and consistent time zones.
Methods: Participants (n = 1440; 18-65y) were part of a virtual population-based survey (2021-22). Sleep patterns were spatially represented through maps using Multilevel B-spline Interpolation.
F1000Res
January 2025
Psychology, University of Turin Department of Psychology, Turin, Piedmont, Italy.
Background: The work experience of seafarers differs significantly from other land-based occupations due to several factors, particularly remoteness and the restricted work environment. This study seeks to examine the impact of burnout and health impairment in the maritime industry, using the Job Demand-Resources theory as a framework.
Methods: To investigate these phenomena, an online questionnaire was sent to 239 Italian seafarers (94.
Cardiovasc Diabetol
January 2025
Department of Thoracic surgery, Shandong Key Laboratory of Digital Diagnosis and Treatment of Thoracic Tumor, Shandong Engineering Research Center of Intelligent Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Shandong First Medical University & Shandong Provincial Qianfoshan Hospital, No.16766, Jingshi Rd, Jinan, 250014, China.
Background: Insulin resistance (IR) is linked to an increased risk of frailty, yet it remains unclear whether the non-insulin-based IR indicators are associated with frailty trajectories and physical function decline. It aimed to examine the associations of triglyceride-glucose (TyG) index, metabolic score for insulin resistance (METS-IR), estimated glucose disposal rate (eGDR) and with long-term deficit-accumulation frailty trajectories and physical function decline.
Methods: Data from 6722 participants in the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study (CHARLS) were analyzed.
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