Louisiana State University researchers are sharing new insights into sleep and its impact on health during Sleep Awareness Week. Dr. Prachi Singh, associate professor and director of Pennington Biomedical’s Sleep and Cardiometabolic Health Lab, emphasizes the broad influence of sleep on well-being.
“Sleep is complex, but it affects everything,” Singh said. She recommends consistent bedtime routines, reducing screen time before bed, and engaging in relaxing activities like bathing or meditating to improve sleep quality.
Singh’s ongoing research explores lifestyle changes to enhance sleep and investigates a peptide called Pep19 that may both improve sleep and reduce body fat. Her studies highlight the connection between sleep, metabolic health, and inflammation.
She notes that visceral fat can lead to chronic inflammation and insulin resistance, which impair sleep quality. Interventions such as intermittent fasting or avoiding late-night eating may help lower inflammation and improve metabolic markers, thereby enhancing sleep.
According to Singh, there is a two-way relationship between sleep and metabolic health: inadequate sleep can increase appetite and contribute to insulin resistance, potentially creating “a vicious cycle” that raises disease risk. In her recent publication in Diabetes Metabolism Research & Reviews, she writes: “There is a ‘critical need for integrated approaches that consider the improvement of both sleep and metabolic health in the treatment and prevention of obesity.’”
Singh also offers practical advice: “Sleep tip: Sleep is free! It’s the easiest thing you can do to improve your health. If you focus on improving sleep, then depression and anxiety levels go down. You’re able to feel happier and see an improved quality of life.”
Alyssa Johnson, associate professor in LSU’s Department of Biological Sciences, addresses why some people need less sleep than others—a question still not fully answered by science.
“For most individuals, 7-8 hours of sleep is required to maintain good health,” Johnson said. “However, there are some rare individuals who can get by on much less sleep.”
Johnson explains that certain genetic mutations—such as those affecting DEC2 or SIK3 genes—allow so-called “natural short sleepers” to function well with only 4-5 hours per night without negative effects. Her lab has engineered fruit flies with similar mutations; these flies showed increased wakefulness due to faulty DEC2 protein but also lived longer with improved mitochondrial function.
“Remarkably, we found that this genetic mutation not only reduces sleep but over-activates cellular stress response systems that led to improved health and even better memory,” Johnson said.
She adds: “Understanding these overactive stress response mechanisms could not only lead to treatments for sleep disorders but could unlock universal pro-health systems that could be tapped for healthy aging interventions.”
Johnson concludes that individual needs for sleep vary based on genetics. Some people possess mutations promoting resilience against lack of rest—a trait scientists hope might inform future therapies for healthy aging.
This research was led by graduate student Pritika Pandey (now at UNC-Chapel Hill) with funding from an NIH/NIGMS R35 MIRA grant.
