Around 15% of the world’s population suffers from tinnitus, a condition characterized by hearing sounds without an external source. The condition is often associated with hearing loss and can have a significant impact on mental health, causing stress or depression.
Researchers have identified a potential link between sleep patterns and tinnitus, suggesting that understanding these connections could help develop new treatments for the condition. Tinnitus affects people’s ability to fall asleep and stay asleep, leading to disrupted slow-wave sleep, which is essential for brain recovery and memory consolidation.
Studies suggest that tinnitus may be associated with overactive brain regions during slow-wave sleep, leading to disturbed sleep patterns and night terrors. However, research also indicates that some deep sleep stages can suppress tinnitus activity. Further investigation into the relationship between sleep stages and tinnitus could lead to the development of new treatments.
Researchers propose using sleep restriction paradigms, where patients are told to only go to bed when they’re tired, to boost slow-wave activity and reduce sleep disruptions. Future studies may involve tracking brain activity during different sleep stages to better understand the link between tinnitus and sleep.
The study’s authors, from the University of Oxford, aim to contribute to a deeper understanding of tinnitus and its relationship with sleep patterns, potentially leading to new treatments for this debilitating condition.
Source: https://www.sciencealert.com/tinnitus-seems-to-be-somehow-connected-to-a-crucial-bodily-function