Clocks & SleepPub Date : 2026-04-17DOI: 10.3390/clockssleep8020020
José Costa Dias, Philippe Peigneux
{"title":"Post-Learning Offline Pauses Support Consolidation Beyond the Mind-Wandering State.","authors":"José Costa Dias, Philippe Peigneux","doi":"10.3390/clockssleep8020020","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3390/clockssleep8020020","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Brief post-learning wakeful resting periods and local sleep mechanisms have been proposed to support offline memory consolidation processes. Mind-wandering (MW), thought to reflect the occurrence or need for local sleep, has been linked to momentary attentional disengagement and may index transitions toward offline processing states. We hypothesized that resting opportunities administered immediately after probe-caught MW episodes reflecting local sleep need may selectively enhance memory consolidation. In a first experiment, participants learned five blocks of eight paired-associate words; a MW thought probe was administered after each block. In the MW condition, participants were allowed a 3 min quiet, offline pause after the block if they reported MW. In the control condition, no pause was administered. Consolidation was better in the MW than the control condition, supporting the hypothesis. However, Experiment 2 tested the MW-related pause effect by comparing the MW condition to a condition in which pauses were allowed irrespective of MW. Results showed that performance equally improved in both conditions, suggesting that post-learning pause effects would not be MW-specific. However, additional analyses evidenced a positive relationship between MW intensity and memory consolidation in both experiments. Our findings suggest that transient interruption of input during a declarative learning session may favor memory consolidation at wake, partially independently of the attentional state.</p>","PeriodicalId":33568,"journal":{"name":"Clocks & Sleep","volume":"8 2","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.1,"publicationDate":"2026-04-17","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13108017/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147782781","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Clocks & SleepPub Date : 2026-04-15DOI: 10.3390/clockssleep8020019
Emilly Francianne Lamego da Silva, Guilherme Martins, Francimara Diniz Ribeiro, Leonardo Martins Guimaraes Rossi, Milena Fernandes de Oliveira, Camila Fernanda Cunha Brandão, Lucas Rios Drummond, Lucas Tulio Lacerda, Thais de Fatima Bittencourt Oliveira, Michael Jackson Oliveira de Andrade
{"title":"Light Exposure Rhythms and Sleep Organization in Adolescents: Temporal Differences Between Weekdays and Weekends in an Actigraphic Study.","authors":"Emilly Francianne Lamego da Silva, Guilherme Martins, Francimara Diniz Ribeiro, Leonardo Martins Guimaraes Rossi, Milena Fernandes de Oliveira, Camila Fernanda Cunha Brandão, Lucas Rios Drummond, Lucas Tulio Lacerda, Thais de Fatima Bittencourt Oliveira, Michael Jackson Oliveira de Andrade","doi":"10.3390/clockssleep8020019","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3390/clockssleep8020019","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Light exposure is a primary zeitgeber for the human circadian system and plays a key role in shaping sleep-wake patterns during adolescence, a period marked by biological sensitivity and social constraints. How the temporal organization and spectral composition of daily light exposure differ between weekdays and weekends remains poorly understood. Eighteen adolescents (15-17 years) were monitored for seven days using wrist actigraphy with integrated light sensors. Sleep parameters, nonparametric circadian rhythm indices, and time-resolved profiles of ambient and spectral (blue, green, and red) light exposure were analyzed. Repeated-measures ANOVA tested the effects of time of day and day type. Total sleep time and time in bed were longer on weekdays than on weekends (<i>p</i> < 0.05), while sleep latency and WASO did not differ. Circadian indices indicated preserved rhythmic organization. Light exposure showed a robust diurnal profile, with higher spectral irradiance on weekends (<i>p</i> < 0.001), especially in the morning and early afternoon. Significant time × day-type interactions were observed across all spectral bands (<i>p</i> < 0.001), indicating systematic reshaping of daily light profiles. Adolescents exhibit weekday-weekend differences in the temporal and spectral organization of light exposure, affecting the amplitude and shape of overall daily profiles.</p>","PeriodicalId":33568,"journal":{"name":"Clocks & Sleep","volume":"8 2","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.1,"publicationDate":"2026-04-15","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13108061/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147783401","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Clocks & SleepPub Date : 2026-04-09DOI: 10.3390/clockssleep8020018
Tony J Cunningham, Shengzi Zeng, Seo Ho Song
{"title":"Sleepless in Society: Introducing the Concept of Public Sleep.","authors":"Tony J Cunningham, Shengzi Zeng, Seo Ho Song","doi":"10.3390/clockssleep8020018","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3390/clockssleep8020018","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Major social, cultural, and sociopolitical events routinely disrupt daily life, yet their effects on sleep are rarely conceptualized at the population level beyond anecdotal sharing. The purpose of this <i>Opinion</i> piece is to initiate a preliminary discussion of \"public sleep\" as a novel construct describing systematic, event-related changes in sleep timing, duration, and quality that emerge coherently within communities in response to shared social experiences. Drawing on similarities with the well-established concept of public mood, we posit that sleep can be shaped by social environments in which shared attention, emotional climate, and coordinated schedules exert systematic influence. In support of this claim, we describe preliminary evidence from diverse domains demonstrating population-level sleep disruption following major events, including the transition to Daylight Saving Time, national elections, prolonged crises such as the COVID-19 pandemic and armed conflicts, and highly salient cultural activities such as major sporting events. These reports from disparate fields provide an initial indication that public sleep disruptions can be acute or prolonged, geographically localized or global, and may be shaped by the duration, emotional intensity, and perceived importance of the associated event. We further highlight the potential public health, safety, social, and economic consequences of collective sleep loss, underscoring its relevance beyond individual well-being. Finally, we outline key directions for future research, emphasizing the need for systematic reviews, mechanistic studies, longitudinal designs, and policy-relevant recommendations. Recognizing public sleep as a measurable population phenomenon would provide a foundation for anticipating, monitoring, and mitigating sleep disruption during periods of collective strain, with implications for both individual health and societal resilience.</p>","PeriodicalId":33568,"journal":{"name":"Clocks & Sleep","volume":"8 2","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.1,"publicationDate":"2026-04-09","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13108207/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147782769","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Clocks & SleepPub Date : 2026-04-07DOI: 10.3390/clockssleep8020017
Ana Patrícia Dias, Fernanda Loureiro
{"title":"Mapping Evidence on Child-Focused Interventions for Promoting Healthy Sleep Habits: A Scoping Review.","authors":"Ana Patrícia Dias, Fernanda Loureiro","doi":"10.3390/clockssleep8020017","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3390/clockssleep8020017","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Sleep is critical for physical growth and healthy child development. Traditionally, interventions targeting sleep improvement in children have focused on the parents. This scoping review aimed to identify and summarize the available evidence on child-focused interventions designed to promote healthy sleep habits among children aged 3-12 in healthcare settings. The review was conducted in accordance with JBI guidelines. A comprehensive search strategy was employed, encompassing databases such as PubMed, CINAHL, Psychology & Behavioral Sciences Collection, Education Source, Scopus, Web of Science, the Public Health Database, and Portugal's Open Access Scientific Repository. Following identification and screening, 15 articles were included. Three types of interventions were identified: isolated, combined, and structured programs. Overall, the studies suggest that, while sleep-related knowledge tends to improve, achieving sustained, long-term behavioral change remains challenging in this age group. Active child participation appears essential for promoting lasting results and developing more tailored, child-friendly interventions.</p>","PeriodicalId":33568,"journal":{"name":"Clocks & Sleep","volume":"8 2","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.1,"publicationDate":"2026-04-07","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13108174/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147783375","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Clocks & SleepPub Date : 2026-03-31DOI: 10.3390/clockssleep8020016
Piphat Kovitkanit, Thavatchai Kamoltham
{"title":"Mechanistic Pathways Linking Cannabidiol, Hemp Seed Oil and Black Sesame Oil in Hyperarousal Insomnia: A Narrative Review.","authors":"Piphat Kovitkanit, Thavatchai Kamoltham","doi":"10.3390/clockssleep8020016","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3390/clockssleep8020016","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Insomnia is increasingly recognized as a manifestation of multisystem dysregulation characterized by sustained physiological hyperarousal. This review situates insomnia within a framework of reciprocal disturbances across neuroendocrine, inflammatory, and autonomic pathways. It examines the potential roles of cannabidiol (CBD), polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) derived from hemp seed oil (HSO), and lignans from black sesame oil (BSO) as modulators of upstream biological processes relevant to sleep regulation. Rather than acting as direct hypnotics, these compounds are considered for their capacity to influence convergent mechanisms involved in sleep-wake stability. Preclinical evidence suggests that CBD modulates endocannabinoid and serotonergic signaling, potentially contributing to the regulation of physiological processes associated with hyperarousal. Concurrently, HSO-derived fatty acids support mitochondrial function and lipid-mediated resolution. Sesame lignans further contribute through antioxidant properties linked to redox balance, neurometabolic stability, and modulation of neural excitability. However, the current evidence base is predominantly preclinical, and definitive conclusions regarding therapeutic efficacy or optimal dosing in humans remain limited. Future research should prioritize integrative clinical studies that link these specific biological modulations to standardized sleep outcomes to determine their real-world applicability. Nevertheless, the pathways discussed align with biological domains consistently implicated in established insomnia phenotypes. This review integrates these compounds within a shared hyperarousal framework to highlight convergent upstream mechanisms that extend beyond their individual effects.</p>","PeriodicalId":33568,"journal":{"name":"Clocks & Sleep","volume":"8 2","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.1,"publicationDate":"2026-03-31","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13108215/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147783411","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Comparative Evaluation of Ashwagandha (<i>Withania somnifera</i>) Root Extract and Melatonin for Improving Sleep Quality in Adults: A Prospective, Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Study.","authors":"Navya Movva, Jaising Salve, Kalpana Wankhede, Vaishali Thakare, Deepak Langade","doi":"10.3390/clockssleep8020015","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3390/clockssleep8020015","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Ashwagandha, a revered herb in Ayurvedic medicine for over 3000 years, is recognized for its potential benefits in regulating sleep and supporting overall vitality. This study evaluated the comparative effects of Ashwagandha root extract (ARE) and melatonin (MLT) on sleep quality in adults. In this prospective, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial, 200 men and women aged 18-50 years were randomized to receive ARE (300 mg twice daily; <i>n</i> = 50), MLT (3 mg/day; <i>n</i> = 50), a combination of ARE (600 mg/day) and MLT (3 mg/day; <i>n</i> = 50), or placebo (<i>n</i> = 50) for eight weeks. The primary outcome was the change in sleep onset latency (SOL) from baseline to week eight, measured by actigraphy. Secondary outcomes included actigraphy-based changes in total sleep time (TST), wake after sleep onset (WASO), and sleep efficiency (SE), as well as subjective measures such as the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) and the Hamilton Anxiety Scale (HAM-A). At week eight, SOL was significantly reduced across treatment groups, with the ARE-MLT (<i>p</i> < 0.0001) combination showing the greatest improvement. The combination group also demonstrated significant improvements in TST (<i>p</i> < 0.0001), WASO (<i>p</i> < 0.0001), and SE (<i>p</i> < 0.0001), whereas ARE and MLT monotherapy produced moderate but comparable benefits. Inferential analyses confirmed statistically significant improvements in objective and subjective sleep measures (<i>p</i> < 0.0001). Safety analyses indicated that mild adverse events occurred across all groups, with no clinically significant between-group differences. Overall, both Ashwagandha and melatonin improved sleep disturbances in adults, with combination therapy producing the most consistent and pronounced benefits.</p>","PeriodicalId":33568,"journal":{"name":"Clocks & Sleep","volume":"8 2","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.1,"publicationDate":"2026-03-27","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13108063/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147783390","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Clocks & SleepPub Date : 2026-03-16DOI: 10.3390/clockssleep8010014
Andrey R Alexandrov, Anton R Kiselev, Mikhail V Agaltsov, Anastasia R Alexandrova, Ivan A Kudashov
{"title":"Evaluation of the Efficacy of a Vibrotactile Device for Positional Therapy of Sleep-Disordered Breathing: A Pilot Study in Healthy Volunteers.","authors":"Andrey R Alexandrov, Anton R Kiselev, Mikhail V Agaltsov, Anastasia R Alexandrova, Ivan A Kudashov","doi":"10.3390/clockssleep8010014","DOIUrl":"10.3390/clockssleep8010014","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>The role of body position during sleep, particularly the supine position, is now recognized as an important factor in the development of sleep-disordered breathing such as snoring, apnea, and hypopnea. This pilot study aimed to evaluate the efficacy of a new wearable vibrotactile device (SoftSleep) in reducing sleep time in the supine position without negatively affecting total sleep duration or perceived sleep quality. This pilot study included 20 healthy volunteers. Sleep was monitored over two consecutive nights: the first night without positional therapy (PT) and the second night using a PT device. The primary outcome measures were total sleep time, sleep duration in the supine position, number of position changes, and subjective sleep quality (using the modified Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index). Use of SoftSleep showed a significant reduction in the mean proportion of sleep in the supine position from 56.01% to 7.84% (<i>p</i> < 0.001). Total sleep time did not change significantly (7:39 ± 1:33 vs. 7:42 ± 1:19; <i>p</i> > 0.05). A moderate increase in the number of position changes was not accompanied by a deterioration in subjective sleep quality: 90% of participants rated their sleep with the device as very good or fairly good. Only three participants reported brief awakenings, which did not affect their overall perception of nighttime rest. These results indicate that the SoftSleep device effectively promotes sleep in a non-supine position without altering sleep quality or subjective perception of sleep. The high tolerability of the device confirms its potential for further clinical evaluation in patients with positional sleep apnea.</p>","PeriodicalId":33568,"journal":{"name":"Clocks & Sleep","volume":"8 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.1,"publicationDate":"2026-03-16","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13025844/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147532903","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Clocks & SleepPub Date : 2026-03-12DOI: 10.3390/clockssleep8010013
Mohamed Salem, Fawzia Alhor, Amr Ouda, Soha Halawa, Yara Abuazab, Ibrahim Elmakaty
{"title":"Sleep and Sleep Disorder Knowledge Among Physicians Working in Qatar's Primary Health Care Corporation: A Cross-Sectional Study.","authors":"Mohamed Salem, Fawzia Alhor, Amr Ouda, Soha Halawa, Yara Abuazab, Ibrahim Elmakaty","doi":"10.3390/clockssleep8010013","DOIUrl":"10.3390/clockssleep8010013","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Sleep is a fundamental biological process essential for physical, cognitive, and mental health, yet sleep disorders remain underrecognized in primary care. Given the central role of primary care physicians (PCPs) in early identification and management, this study aimed to assess sleep and sleep disorder knowledge among PCPs working within the Primary Health Care Corporation in Qatar. A cross-sectional study was conducted using the validated 30-item Assessment of Sleep Knowledge in Medical Education (ASKME) questionnaire, alongside demographic and clinical practice variables. The primary outcomes were the overall ASKME percentage score and participants achieving adequate sleep knowledge (≥60%). A total of 110 PCPs were included in the analysis. The mean overall ASKME score was 56.5%, and 44.5% of participants achieved adequate sleep knowledge. Knowledge was highest in circadian sleep-wake regulation and basic sleep principles, and lowest in common sleep disorders, sleep architecture, and the effects of drugs and alcohol on sleep. In multivariable logistic regression, years of clinical experience was the only factor independently associated with adequate sleep knowledge. These findings indicate persistent gaps in clinically relevant sleep knowledge among PCPs and underscore the need for targeted sleep education within primary care to support early and effective management of sleep disorders. However, the achieved sample size was substantially smaller than the initially calculated target of 260, limiting statistical power; therefore, the non-significant findings may reflect a Type II error, and the regression analyses should be interpreted with caution.</p>","PeriodicalId":33568,"journal":{"name":"Clocks & Sleep","volume":"8 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.1,"publicationDate":"2026-03-12","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13026034/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147532960","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Clocks & SleepPub Date : 2026-03-07DOI: 10.3390/clockssleep8010012
Erin E Kishman, Shawn D Youngstedt, Xuewen Wang
{"title":"Associations Between 24 H Movement Behaviors and Body Weight in Postpartum Women: An Isotemporal Substitution Model Approach.","authors":"Erin E Kishman, Shawn D Youngstedt, Xuewen Wang","doi":"10.3390/clockssleep8010012","DOIUrl":"10.3390/clockssleep8010012","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background/objectives: </strong>There are limited data on the dynamic changes in daily composition of movement behaviors (sleep; moderate-to-vigorous physical activity, MVPA; light physical activity, LPA; and sedentary time, SED) and their associations with body weight in postpartum women. The purpose of this study was to examine associations of reallocating time in one behavior to another with body weight, at different times in the first year postpartum.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>The study included 86 women who delivered a singleton infant at ≥37 weeks gestation. Physical activity and sleep were measured via actigraphy in early, mid-, and late postpartum. Body weight was measured at each timepoint. Isotemporal substitution models were used to examine the association of reallocating ten minutes of one behavior (MVPA, LPA, SED, or sleep) to another, with body weight.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Participants spent most of their day in SED (~52-53%), followed by sleep (~30%), LPA (~12-13%), and then MVPA (~2%) throughout the first year postpartum. In early and mid-postpartum, but not late postpartum, reallocating 10 min of MVPA to LPA, SED, or sleep was associated with lower body weight (range: 3.07-4.03 kg lower). In early and late postpartum, reallocating 10 min of SED to LPA was associated with a lower body weight (4.03 kg and 1.04 kg, respectively). In participants who slept ≥7 h per day, reallocating sleep to LPA in early postpartum, and MVPA time to LPA in mid-postpartum was associated with lower body weight. In those who slept <7 h, no significant associations with body weight were found when reallocating time from one behavior to another.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>Encouraging LPA throughout the postpartum period may be beneficial for weight loss, and having enough sleep may be especially important for early to mid-postpartum. Future research examining the impact of changes in LPA on body weight in the postpartum period are needed, along with postpartum specific 24 h movement guidelines.</p>","PeriodicalId":33568,"journal":{"name":"Clocks & Sleep","volume":"8 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.1,"publicationDate":"2026-03-07","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13025500/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147532784","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Clocks & SleepPub Date : 2026-02-27DOI: 10.3390/clockssleep8010011
Miller Martinez, Frank Villarreal, Lourdes M DelRosso
{"title":"Mechanistic Overlaps Between Sleep and Headache Disorders: From Dopaminergic Dysfunction to Neuroinflammation-A Narrative Review.","authors":"Miller Martinez, Frank Villarreal, Lourdes M DelRosso","doi":"10.3390/clockssleep8010011","DOIUrl":"10.3390/clockssleep8010011","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Sleep disorders and primary headache syndromes frequently coexist, and accumulating evidence suggests that this relationship is bidirectional and biologically mediated rather than coincidental. Patients with migraine, tension-type headache, and cluster headache commonly report poor sleep quality, insomnia symptoms, and irregular sleep patterns, while individuals with sleep disorders such as insomnia, obstructive sleep apnea, restless legs syndrome, and narcolepsy experience a higher prevalence, severity, and chronification of headache disorders. This narrative review synthesizes current clinical, epidemiologic, and translational evidence supporting shared neurobiological mechanisms linking sleep and headache disorders. We focus on five major overlapping pathways: dopaminergic dysfunction, iron deficiency, hypothalamic and circadian dysregulation, central sensitization, and neuroinflammation. Evidence from population-based studies, clinical cohorts, neuroimaging, genetic research, and experimental models demonstrates that these mechanisms converge within hypothalamic, brainstem, and trigeminovascular circuits that regulate arousal, pain processing, and homeostasis. Conditions such as insomnia, obstructive sleep apnea, restless legs syndrome, and circadian disruption not only exacerbate headache burden but may act as modifiable risk factors that promote headache onset and progression. Recognizing sleep disorders as integral components of headache pathophysiology has important clinical implications, emphasizing the need for systematic sleep assessment and targeted sleep interventions as part of comprehensive headache management strategies.</p>","PeriodicalId":33568,"journal":{"name":"Clocks & Sleep","volume":"8 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.1,"publicationDate":"2026-02-27","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13026077/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147532920","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}