adult couple sleeping

A small bet, at the right time and place

I arrived at OHSU in 2013, a newly appointed Assistant Professor in the Department of Anesthesiology and Perioperative Medicine at the Knight Cardiovascular Institute. I had just completed my...

Lecture series explores the secret life of the brain

The workings of the brain remain mysterious. Moral choices, the effects of physical touch, vivid dreams—we may not know how or why they happen, but they all can serve a purpose. Our 2017...

Cleaning while we sleep: A novel approach in Alzheimer’s research

Every 67 seconds, an American develops Alzheimer’s disease. It affects 5.3 million people in the US and if no medical breakthroughs to prevent or cure the disease are found, this number will...

Spring forward with ease with these tips from a sleep expert

Daylight saving time gives us an opportunity to enjoy a little more sunlight when we get home from a busy day. However, studies indicate that this time change can also be associated with disrupted...

Workplace freedom and support improves sleep

About 25-30% of U.S. citizens report insufficient sleep, which is associated with workplace errors, crashes, disease, and even early mortality. With co-authors from the Work, Family, and...

The connection between the brain, sleep and dementia

Last week, I talked about ongoing research on how sleep "deep cleans" your brain, as well as my participation in the National Geographic Channel's documentary Sleepless in America. Meanwhile, our...

Sleepless in America — and the science behind it

There’s nothing quite like that feeling in your head after a long night of...no sleep. Your head feels disorganized, foggy, fuzzy, jumbled. Like it’s full of sludge left over from the night...

How our brains wash away the gunk during sleep

You wake on Saturday morning, drag your body out of bed and survey your home. You had entertained houseguests the night before, and it shows. Friends and family had filled your home, loud voices and...