Understanding the relationship between sleep and the functioning of blood vessels in the brain.
The aim of this observational study is to investigate whether a person's normal sleep influences the functioning of the blood vessels in their brain.
Participation in this study involves one familiarisation visit to the laboratory (visit 1, ~1.5 hours) and one visit where we measure all key outcomes (visit 2, 2-3 hours). During visit 2 we will use ultrasound to assess the functioning of the blood vessels in the brain.
In between visit 1 and visit 2, we will ask you to record your normal sleep for three nights. You will be asked to wear a small device during the night that attaches to the forehead via a sticky patch.
These three nights of sleep recording do not need to be consecutive, and the two study visits can take place up to 10 days apart. Both study visits take place at The University of Queensland, PULSE laboratory on St Lucia campus.
Eligibility
- People aged 9 years + (no upper age limit), who consider themselves a poor sleeper.
- For children and adolescents this may involve sleeping for less than 7 hours per night, and for adults less than 6 hours per night.
- Exclusion criteria: people who are pregnant, smokers, have diagnosed cardiovascular or cerebrovascular disease (including hypertension and diabetes), or are taking medication known to affect the blood vessels (e.g. antihypertensives, hormone therapy).
Participant benefits
You will be provided with a data pack containing your own data upon completion of the study.
This will involve detailed information about your sleep (time in each sleep stage, sleep efficiency, time awake throughout the night), blood pressure, and your total cholesterol and glucose levels.
Register your interest
Interested participants can email Alice Lester via the link below.
Any enquiries or questions regarding the survey or study can be directed to alice.lester@uq.edu.au
This study has been approved by The University of Queensland Human Research Ethics Committee [Approval No. 2024/HE000400]