Researchers from the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine's Center for Translational Sleep and Circadian Sciences showcased 34 posters at the SLEEP 2025 conference, highlighting their findings on sleep disruption and its implications for health, particularly regarding Alzheimer's disease risk and insomnia among diverse populations.
Read More
Dr. Girardin Jean-Louis, director of the center, emphasized that the studies address how chronic stress and social inequities impact Alzheimer’s disease, particularly within Black and Hispanic communities. He advocates for public health strategies that combine sleep health, social equity, and early biomarker screenings to alleviate the heightened risk of Alzheimer’s among marginalized groups.
One study led by T32 postdoctoral scholar Brittany Larsen investigated the relationship between sleep stages, cardiovascular risk biomarkers, and cognitive performance in older Black adults. The research involved 35 participants over the age of 55 from New York and Florida. The use of Fitbit devices tracked sleep metrics over seven days, while blood tests assessed cardiometabolic health. Findings suggest a strong correlation between poor sleep, inflammation, and cognitive decline, with cholesterol profiles influencing sleep architecture and cognitive health.
Michelle Thompson, another T32 postdoctoral scholar, explored how discrimination affects insomnia severity in Black adults. This study included data from 382 individuals aged 18 to 75 in New York City and Miami and was part of the NIH-funded ESSENTIAL study on sleep health determinants. Results indicated that higher discrimination scores correlated significantly with increased insomnia severity among women but not men, suggesting the need for tailored interventions to address gender differences.
Additionally, Velarie Ansu-Baidoo, also a postdoctoral scholar, analyzed daily activity and meal timing using data from nearly 3,000 adults and their wearable devices. Findings revealed that overall activity levels influenced meal timing, with more active individuals having earlier first meals and later last meals. Notably, racial and ethnic differences were observed, with variations in activity patterns potentially explaining health disparities across groups. The study suggests that aligning meal times with natural circadian rhythms through time-restricted eating may improve health outcomes.