Noise reduction shades create conditions for restful night's sleep

A new study by Italian researchers has found that people who experience sleep deprivation because of a sleep disorder may also suffer brain damage that leads to attention and memory problems.


The condition, called obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), causes airway blockages that temporarily stop an individual from breathing while they sleep. People who have the disorder wake many times during the night.


According to the American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, the research team at the Vita-Salute San Raffaele University determined that people who suffer from OSA had reduced gray matter in areas of the brain related to cognitive abilities. They also showed some damage in the left cortex, which is linked to daytime sleepiness.


With early detection, the researchers found that corrective treatment can at least partially reverse the damage caused by OSA.
 

Sleep specialists say that getting a good night's sleep may be improved by creating a more restful atmosphere in one's bedroom. The addition of noise reduction shades to a bedroom can block sound from traffic, nearby trains or neighborhood noise that cause people to wake easily. They are also constructed of materials that absorb light that may wake up sleepers.