SfN18: Disrupted sleep may exacerbate anxiety and brain disorders

Research presented at SfN Neuroscience 2018 (3–7 November, San Diego, CA, USA) has highlighted the impact that circadian rhythm disruption can have on a variety of brain disorders, and that unusual sleep–wake cycles may not only be a side effect of a brain disorder, but could also drive brain pathology and potentially exacerbate symptoms. Disrupted sleep is often linked to brain disorders such as anxiety, dementia and traumatic brain injuries. However, an improved understanding of the brain mechanisms associated with this could allow potential treatments to be developed. One study observed the differences in sleep and wakefulness in individuals with...