Hitting the Snooze Button Red Light Therapy to Reduce Glucose Levels

In a two-part study published in the Journal of Sleep Research , scientists surveyed 1,732 individuals and found that 69 percent use the snooze feature on their morning alarm, and of those people, 60 percent usually or always fall asleep between alarms. Snoozing is more common among younger people and night owls. For those using this feature, drowsiness and shorter sleep is more common.

The study also sought to determine the effects of snoozing on 31 habitual snoozers. The first morning, the participants repeatedly hit the button to gain 30 extra minutes, and on the second morning, the participants got up on the first alarm. The researchers reported that 30 minutes of snoozing either improved or did not affect performance on cognitive tests administered directly upon rising, as compared to an abrupt awakening. There were no clear effects from snoozing on cortisol awakening response, morning sleepiness, mood or overnight sleep.

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control estimates that 37.3 million Americans, or 11.3 percent of the population, have diabetes, which means the body does not produce enough insulin, causing too much blood glucose (sugar) to stay in the bloodstream. Over time, diabetes can cause serious health problems, such as heart disease, vision loss and kidney disease.

Researchers from the University of London conducted a study of the effects of red light therapy on blood sugar levels. In the study, 15 participants received 670 nanometers of red light onto approximately 800 square centimeters of their exposed back for 15 minutes. The 15-person control group had the same equipment placed on their back, but the light was not turned on.

The result was a significant reduction in blood sugar levels in the group exposed to red light following a glucose intake by the participants. Over a two-hour period following the therapy, maximum glucose spiking was reduced by 5.1 percent. Red light exposure can be used to reduce blood glucose spikes following meals as a safe, non-invasive treatment for diabetes management at home.

Diagnosing Alzheimer’s Using Artificial Intelligence

According to the Alzheimer’s Association, more than 6 million Americans and their families are living with Alzheimer’s disease. To determine if a person has the disease and rule out other possible causes of cognitive disfunction, doctors use several methods and tools, such as memory and problem-solving tests, biomarker tests and brain scans. Companies and scientists are engaged in harnessing the power of artificial intelligence (AI) to improve diagnosis. Here are three examples.

RetiSpec, a Toronto-based medical imaging company, claims to have developed an AI algorithm for its eye scanner that can detect signs of Alzheimer’s 20 years before symptoms develop, as well as Parkinson’s, vascular dementia and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS).

California-based NeuroVision Imaging uses its AI-enhanced retinal imaging system to look for the buildup of certain proteins or blood vessels with a twisted shape, which are both associated with Alzheimer’s disease.

Rui Chang, Ph.D., a researcher at the University of Arizona College of Medicine, built an AI model to identify genetic triggers linked to Alzheimer’s, which would otherwise potentially take a decade to identify. His model will be tested in a clinical trial led by PATH Biotech, an AI-powered medical solutions company founded by Chang.

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Baby-Talking Dolphins

In a study published in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, researchers identified the first nonhuman animal mother to use baby talk with their young. Bottlenose dolphin mothers use a higher pitch of their whistles when communicating with their calves. They also employ a signature whistle that functions like a name, and calves learn their names and those of their mother and members of their pod early on.

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Scientists from Florida’s Sarasota Dolphin Research Program have been recording the whistles of adult female dolphins and their calves for decades. Analysis of the recordings of 19 pairs of mothers and calves found that dolphin mothers produced signature whistles with a significantly higher maximum frequency and wider frequency ranges when they were with their calves than not with them. It is thought that the baby talk enhances a calf’s attention, allowing for bonding with their mother and vocal learning. The research may provide insight into the evolution of vocal learning, a prerequisite for language.

Oldest Wooden Structure

A study in the journal Nature reports the discovery of a wooden structure dating back 476,000 years near Kalambo Falls, in Zambia. The structure predates the evolution of Homo sapiens by more than 120,000 years.

Archaeologists found two preserved interlocking logs joined side-to-side by an intentionally cut notch. Tool marks were found on both logs, along with a collection of wooden tools. The study authors believe that the logs may have been used to build a raised platform, walkway or foundation for a dwelling in an area subject to periodic flooding. The discovery challenges the view that Stone Age hominini were nomadic. To estimate the age of the logs and tools, the team used luminescence dating techniques that roughly calculate the last time minerals in the sand surrounding the items were exposed to sunlight.