Latest news with #KarimJerbi
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Health
- Yahoo
Caffeine Has a Weird Effect on Your Brain While You're Asleep
We already know that the stimulating powers of caffeine make it an unsuitable choice for a late-night drink – at least if you want to get any shut-eye. But a new study adds a whole extra level of detail to our understanding of caffeine's impact on the brain during sleep. Caffeine was shown to increase brain signal complexity, and shift the brain closer to a state of 'criticality', in tests run by researchers from the University of Montreal in Canada. This criticality refers to the brain being balanced between structure and flexibility, thought to be the most efficient state for processing information, learning, and making decisions. However, this state might prevent restful sleep, the researchers suggest. The caffeine isn't just keeping us alert, but actually changing how the brain is operating. What's more, they found younger adults aged 20 to 27 were more greatly affected in this way. Further analysis revealed that caffeine influenced the slow oscillations of electrical activity known as delta, theta, and alpha waves. These are indicators of deeper, more restorative sleep, but caffeine weakened them – especially during the non-rapid eye movement sleep phase the brain uses to fix memories in place and recharge our cognitive functions. "These changes suggest that even during sleep, the brain remains in a more activated, less restorative state under the influence of caffeine," says neuroscientist Karim Jerbi, from the University of Montreal. "This change in the brain's rhythmic activity may help explain why caffeine affects the efficiency with which the brain recovers during the night, with potential consequences for memory processing." For the study, the researchers recruited 40 volunteers, and measured their brain patterns via electroencephalograms (EEGs) across two nights. On one night, the participants were given a placebo, and on the other, a capsule containing 200 milligrams of caffeine (equivalent to about one or two cups of coffee). A variety of statistical methods was used to validate the results, and to make sure the differences seen in brain activity were related to the caffeine intake – showing that shift towards criticality and more excited neurons. "While this is useful during the day for concentration, this state could interfere with rest at night," says neuroscientist Julie Carrier, from the University of Montreal. "The brain would neither relax nor recover properly." When it comes to the different reactions across different ages, the researchers suggest that changes in the brain as we age might be responsible. Adenosine molecules gradually build up in the brain during the day, leading to a greater feeling of fatigue as bedtime approaches. Caffeine works by blocking the receptors that adenosine interacts with, giving us a temporary jolt of energy. Adenosine receptors are more abundant in younger brains, which may explain why younger people seem to be more sensitive to caffeine's powers. That includes both the positive energizing effects, and the negative effects of keeping the brain too active overnight. "Caffeine is a psychoactive stimulant that is consumed by people across all age groups on a daily basis through a wide variety of products such as coffee, tea, soft drinks, energy drinks, chocolate, and several pharmaceutical drugs," write the researchers in their published paper. "It is therefore critical to understand how caffeine affects the brain during sleep, and across age." The research has been published in Communications Biology. Can This Blue Chemical Really Boost Your Brain? Here's What We Know. Confirmed: Breakfast Cereals Are Getting Sweeter And Less Nutritious Rosemary Can Sharpen Your Mind, And Could Help Fight Alzheimer's
Yahoo
5 days ago
- Health
- Yahoo
How Coffee Affects Your Sleeping Brain – and Why Young Adults Are Worse Off
In a new study published in the journal Nature Communications Biology, a team of researchers explored how caffeine affects sleep and brain recovery – physically and cognitively – overnight. The team studied a total of 40 healthy adults, whose brain activity was measured on two separate nights: one when they consumed caffeine capsules three hours and one hour before bedtime (totalling 200mg caffeine), and another when they took a placebo at the same times. The scientists then used AI and electroencephalography (EEG) to study the participants' nocturnal brain activity to see how caffeine affected their sleep. Following their statistical analysis, the researchers found that caffeine increased the complexity of the participants' brain signals, making them more dynamic and less predictable – particularly during the non-rapid eye movement (NREM) phase of sleep, which is crucial for memory consolidation and cognitive recovery. They also identified changes in the brain's electrical signals during sleep. Namely, that caffeine led to slower oscillations (such as theta and alpha waves, which are generally associated with deep, restorative sleep) and stimulated beta wave activity – seen more during wakefulness and mental engagement. 'These changes suggest that even during sleep, the brain remains in a more activated, less restorative state under the influence of caffeine,' said Karim Jerbi, a psychology professor and one of the study's authors. 'This change in the brain's rhythmic activity may help explain why caffeine affects the efficiency with which the brain recovers during the night, with potential consequences for memory processing.' The main thing you need to know is that, according to this study, caffeine increases brain signal complexity and enhances something called your brain 'criticality' during sleep. Jerbi defined this as 'a state of the brain that is balanced between order and chaos'. 'It's like an orchestra: too quiet and nothing happens, too chaotic and there's cacophony. Criticality is the happy medium where brain activity is both organised and flexible. In this state, the brain functions optimally: it can process information efficiently, adapt quickly, learn and make decisions with agility.' When we drink coffee, the brain is stimulated and pushed into a state of criticality – where it's more awake, alert and reactive. 'While this is useful during the day for concentration, this state could interfere with rest at night: the brain would neither relax nor recover properly,' explained Julie Carrier, a sleep and ageing professor whose team collaborated with the researchers on this study. To ensure your brain gets ample recovery time while you sleep, it could mean reconsidering that 4 pm work slump coffee and swapping it for something lower in caffeine or free from it altogether. Government guidelines suggest around 400 mg of caffeine as the upper daily limit. Given that the participants in this study consumed 200 mg in the three hours before bedtime and still experienced increased brain activity during sleep, you might benefit from rethinking your coffee schedule and potentially shifting it to front-load your caffeine in the first half of the day. According to this study, your sleeping brain may be less affected by coffee the older you get. Researchers found that younger adults (aged 20-27) compared to middle-aged participants (41-58) were significantly more affected by caffeine – especially during REM sleep – the phase associated with dreaming. They said this increased response was likely due to a higher density of adenosine (a molecule that gradually accumulates in the brain throughout the day, causing feelings of fatigue) receptors in their brains. 'Adenosine receptors naturally decrease with age, reducing caffeine's ability to block them and improve brain complexity, which may partly explain the reduced effect of caffeine observed in middle-aged participants,' Carrier explained. This was a relatively small study and the researchers highlighted that while it's the first to show that caffeine enhances brain criticality during sleep, more research is needed to confirm the results. Now they've shed light on what happens in the brain after lights out following caffeine consumption, the researchers said more studies are needed to explore how these neural changes might affect people's cognitive health and daily functioning – and to potentially guide personalised recommendations for caffeine intake. Thanks to its antioxidant properties, coffee can have several health benefits, including reduced risk of chronic diseases like heart disease and some types of cancer. So, this isn't to say it's 'bad' for your health. Rather, this study's unique insight into neural activity gives us some things to consider regarding when, why and how we consume caffeine to ensure our brains get the most out of a good night's kip. You Might Also Like The 23 Best Foods to Build Muscle 10 of the Best Waterproof Boots to Buy in 2019 6 Ways to Improve Your Mental Health
Courier-Mail
01-06-2025
- Health
- Courier-Mail
Super common habit is keeping your brain awake while you sleep
Don't miss out on the headlines from Health. Followed categories will be added to My News. Late-night scrolling isn't the only thing sabotaging your slumber. New research suggests a common daily habit may send your brain into overdrive while you sleep — even if you do it hours before bedtime. Scientists warn the disruption could interfere with the brain's overnight recovery processes, potentially taking a toll on your cognitive health. In the study, Canadian researchers had 40 healthy adults spend two non-consecutive nights in a sleep lab. On one night, participants consumed 200 milligrams of caffeine — the equivalent of about two cups of coffee — a few hours before bed. On the other, they were given a placebo. Something could be sabotaging your slumber, even if you consume it hours before bed. Picture: iStock While most people know caffeine can make it harder to fall asleep, researchers used EEG scans to track brain activity after participants dozed off and found it kept their brains in a heightened state of alertness long after they shut their eyes. They found, for the first time, that the stimulant pushed the brain into a state of 'criticality', making it more awake, alert and reactive than it should be while snoozing. 'While this is useful during the day for concentration, this state could interfere with rest at night: the brain would neither relax nor recover properly,' said Dr Julie Carrier, a psychology professor at the University of Montreal and co-author of the study. The team used artificial intelligence to detect subtle changes in neuronal activity and found caffeine increased the complexity of brain signals, preventing the brain from fully powering down during sleep. Caffeine is preventing your brain from fully shutting down during sleep. Picture: iStock The effect was especially strong during non-REM sleep — the deep stage critical for memory and cognitive recovery. Researchers also observed changes in brain wave patterns. Slow waves linked to deep, restorative rest were reduced, while faster waves associated with wakefulness and mental activity increased. 'These changes suggest that even during sleep, the brain remains in a more activated, less restorative state under the influence of caffeine,' said Dr Karim Jerbi, a psychology professor at the University of Montreal and researcher at the Mila Quebec Artificial Intelligence Institute, who co-authored the study. 'This change in the brain's rhythmical activity may help explain why caffeine affects the efficiency with which the brain recovers during the night, with potential consequences for memory processing,' he added. Younger brains could be especially vulnerable to caffeine's impact. Picture: iStock Notably, the stimulant's effects were far more pronounced in participants aged 20 to 27 compared to those aged 41 to 58 — especially during REM sleep, the dreaming phase tied to emotional and cognitive processing. Researchers believe younger adults responded more strongly due to having more adenosine receptors. These molecules gradually accumulate in the brain throughout the day, triggering fatigue. 'Adenosine receptors naturally decrease with age, reducing caffeine's ability to block them and improve brain complexity, which may partly explain the reduced effect of caffeine observed in middle-aged participants,' Dr Carrier said. The findings suggest younger brains may be especially vulnerable to caffeine's hidden impact on rest. Caffeine increases neural activity during sleep. Picture: iStock Caffeine is the most widely consumed psychoactive drug in the world, commonly found in products such as coffee, tea, chocolate, sodas and energy drinks. Three in four Australians (75 per cent) enjoy at least one cup of coffee per day, and of those, 28 per cent have three or more cups per day, according to McCrindle. While the Mayo Clinic says up to 400 milligrams of caffeine per day is generally safe for healthy adults, the study suggests it could still be interfering with sleep quality — even hours after your last sip. The scientists are calling for further research exploring how these night-time brain changes affect day-to-day functioning and cognitive health. This, they said, could one day shape personalised caffeine recommendations. This article originally appeared in The New York Post and was republished here with permission. Originally published as Super common habit is keeping your brain awake while you sleep
New York Post
31-05-2025
- Health
- New York Post
Super common habit is keeping your brain awake while you sleep — even when you do it hours before bed
Late-night scrolling isn't the only thing sabotaging your slumber. New research suggests that a common daily habit may send your brain into overdrive while you sleep — even if you do it hours before bedtime. Scientists warn the disruption could interfere with the brain's overnight recovery processes, potentially taking a toll on your cognitive health. 4 Caffeine is a stimulant that can make it hard to fall asleep, but it might also affect your brain once you doze off. Rido – In the study, Canadian researchers had 40 healthy adults spend two nonconsecutive nights in a sleep lab. On one night, participants consumed 200 milligrams of caffeine — the equivalent of about two cups of coffee — a few hours before bed. On the other, they were given a placebo. While most people know caffeine can make it harder to fall asleep, researchers used EEG scans to track brain activity after participants dozed off and found it kept their brains in a heightened state of alertness long after they shut their eyes. They found, for the first time, that the stimulant pushed the brain into a state of 'criticality,' making it more awake, alert and reactive than it should be while catching Zzz's. 'While this is useful during the day for concentration, this state could interfere with rest at night: the brain would neither relax nor recover properly,' said Dr. Julie Carrier, a psychology professor at the University of Montreal and co-author of the study. 4 The majority of Americans drink at least one caffeinated beverage daily. sebra – The team used artificial intelligence to detect subtle changes in neuronal activity and found that caffeine increased the complexity of brain signals, preventing the brain from fully powering down during sleep. The effect was especially strong during non-REM sleep — the deep stage critical for memory and cognitive recovery. Researchers also observed changes in brain wave patterns. Slow waves linked to deep, restorative rest were reduced, while faster waves associated with wakefulness and mental activity increased. 'These changes suggest that even during sleep, the brain remains in a more activated, less restorative state under the influence of caffeine,' said Dr. Karim Jerbi, a psychology professor at the University of Montreal and researcher at the Mila Quebec Artificial Intelligence Institute, who co-authored the study. 'This change in the brain's rhythmic activity may help explain why caffeine affects the efficiency with which the brain recovers during the night, with potential consequences for memory processing,' he added. 4 Caffeine increased neural activity during sleep and suppressed slow waves linked to deep, restorative rest. Maryna – Notably, the stimulant's effect's were far more pronounced in participants aged 20 to 27 compared to those aged 41 to 58 — especially during REM sleep, the dreaming phase tied to emotional and cognitive processing. Researchers believe younger adults responded more strongly due to having more adenosine receptors. These molecules gradually accumulate in the brain throughout the day, triggering fatigue. 'Adenosine receptors naturally decrease with age, reducing caffeine's ability to block them and improve brain complexity, which may partly explain the reduced effect of caffeine observed in middle-aged participants,' Carrier said. The findings suggest younger brains may be especially vulnerable to caffeine's hidden impact on rest. 4 Caffiene might have an event greater impact on the sleeping brain's of young people. Svitlana – Caffeine is the most widely consumed psychoactive drug in the world, commonly found in products such as coffee, tea, chocolate, sodas and energy drinks. A 2023 Sleep Foundation survey found that 94% of US adults consume caffeinated beverages, and 64% drink them daily. Of those, 40% said they didn't think it affected their sleep. While the FDA says up to 400 milligrams of caffeine per day is generally safe for healthy adults, the study suggests it could still be interfering with sleep quality — even hours after your last sip. The scientists are calling for further research exploring how these nighttime brain changes affect day-to-day functioning and cognitive health. This, they said, could one day shape personalized caffeine recommendations.
