Sleep

The biological process of sleep is foundational to human health and well-being. Multiple studies from variety of agencies have confirmed that sleep deprivation in adults increases incidence of both physical and mental diseases and leads to poor performance in the workplace. Sleep deprivation has also been shown to impact cognitive functions associated with learning including memory formation, attention span, and decision making.

Studies involving infants and young children demonstrate the importance sleep plays in in memory consolidation. Furthermore, insufficient sleep negatively impacts recall of previously acquired knowledge. In addition, sleep deprivation correlates with poor emotional functioning, mood disorders, and negative academic outcomes.

The total amount of sleep necessary for optimal health and functioning changes across a human lifespan. While adults should strive for between 7 and 8 hours per day, infants typically require twice that amount. Yet over the past several decades the number of adults achieving the amount of sleep necessary has decreased significantly. Moreover, the number of children and adolescents sleeping as much as needed has also decreased. Sleep quality can also be compromised, leading to lifelong sleep issues