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The secrets of sleep unveiled with science

3 episodes
  • 1
    What happens in our brains during sleep?
  • 2
    How to improve sleep, according to science
  • 3
    How better sleep can protect cardiovascular health
Épisode 1/3
On September 3rd, 2024
5 min reading time
William Wisden
William Wisden
Professor at Imperial College London, Member of the Academy of Medical Sciences and the Royal Society

Key takeaways

  • Sleep is one of the most fundamental human functions, but research is still lacking.
  • The hypothesis that we sleep to cleanse our brains of toxins may not be so obvious.
  • Research is starting to offer clues as to how our bodies keep track of sleep deprivation over time.
  • Certain molecules, such as interleukin 6 and adenosine, are involved in regulating sleep in response to exhaustion.
  • This research could also help develop better sleeping pills, which could induce biomimetic deep sleep.
Épisode 2/3
On September 25th, 2024
4 min reading time
Armelle rancillac
Armelle Rancillac
Researcher in Neuroscience at Inserm and Collège de France

Key takeaways

  • In 2024, the French will sleep an average of 15 minutes less per day than in 2023, with an overall drop in sleep time of 1 and a half hours over 50 years.
  • Before resorting to medical treatments, doctors recommend improving lifestyle habits to alleviate sleep disorders.
  • Sleep is regulated by sleep pressure and the body clock, which are influenced by light, meals, physical activity, and social interaction.
  • Exposure to daylight and avoiding screens in the evening are effective strategies for synchronising the body clock.
  • Regular physical activity and a glucose-rich evening meal promote better sleep, by stimulating the production of serotonin and adenosine.
Épisode 3/3
On September 18th, 2024
3 min reading time
JP Empana
Jean-Philippe Empana
Physician and INSERM Research Director at Paris Cardiovascular Research Center (PARCC)

Key takeaways

  • The number of deaths linked to cardiovascular disease (CVD) is estimated to have risen by 60% since 1990, making it the leading cause of death.
  • Considerable research efforts are being made to better identify risk factors and markers, so that action can be taken as far upstream as possible.
  • Many risk factors have already been identified (smoking, diabetes, alcohol, sedentary lifestyle, etc.), but researchers are increasingly interested in sleep.
  • According to the work of a team of researchers, the “better” the sleep, the lower the number of cases of CVD.
  • According to the study, it is never too late to improve the quality of your sleep and preserve your cardiovascular health.