Sleep deprivation can have serious effects on your health. Catching a cold is one of them. A study in the Archives of Internal Medicine suggests that people who have poor quality sleep are more likely to get sick after being exposed to a cold virus than those who sleep.

New imaging research in the June 24 issue of The Journal of Neuroscience helps explain why sleep deprivation affects some people more than others. After staying awake all night, those who are genetically vulnerable to sleep loss showed reduced brain activity, while those who are genetically resilient showed expanded brain activity, the study found. The findings help explain individual differences in the ability to compensate for lack of sleep.

What’s your sleep style? Come out and join the “Zzzz Across America” national sleep tour stopping at the 16th Annual Long Grove Apple Festival as the event is to help Long Grove residents put sleepless nights to rest.

Staying awake slows down our brains, scientists have long recognized. Mental performance is at its peak after sleep but inevitably trends downward throughout the day, and sleep deprivation only worsens these effects.

Researchers at the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine have shown that the unfolded protein response, which is a reaction to stress induced by sleep deprivation, is impaired in the brains of old mice.

Postpartum mothers of twins have significant sleep restriction and depressive symptoms, according to a research abstract that will be presented on Monday at SLEEP 2008, the 22nd Annual Meeting of the Associated Professional Sleep Societies (APSS).

Somnambulism (sleepwalking), which usually involves misperception and unresponsiveness to the environment, mental confusion and amnesia about sleepwalking episodes, affects up to 4 percent of adults.

The field of presidential contenders dwindled Wednesday when former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani and former Sen. John Edwards (D-N.C.) dropped out of the race. As Super Tuesday approaches, however, the Democratic and Republican frontrunners will continue to face a formidable challenge from sleep deprivation.

The frequency of respiratory disturbances increases dramatically with age, even in healthy individuals without symptoms or signs of obstructive sleep apnea syndrome, according to a study published in the February 1 issue of the journal SLEEP.

Four days’ exposure to a REM sleep deprivation procedure reduces cell proliferation in the part of the forebrain that contributes to long-term memory of rats, according to a study published in the February 1 issue of the journal SLEEP.

This article might appeal to the beleaguered hospital intern or the college student during finals week, both of which must at times combat sleep deprivation. The loss of the hypothalamic neurons that produce orexin-A causes narcolepsy, and the administration of orexin-A produces arousal and increased attention.

It has long been assumed that sleep deprivation can play havoc with our emotions.