University of Surrey in Guildford Investigates Sleep

Sleep well? No? A singing pillow might help...

Staff at the University of Surrey in Guildford have been researching slumber as part of a four year study into strategies to aid sleep, especially in old people. SomnIA (Sleep In Ageing) suggests that we should rate getting enough sleep as a top priority for a healthy lifestyle. The researchers claim that getting at least six hours’ sleep every night is as important as eating healthily and exercising regularly.

According to SomnIA, a lack of sleep can increase the risk of heart disease and diabetes, and insomnia in older people can lead to accidents, depression and impaired mental functioning. The study has shown that preventative measures can be taken to get more sleep whilst avoiding medication, which can lead to falls. Poor or dim lighting in a living space, researchers claim, can lead to poor sleep at night, and suggest that simply changing to a brighter light bulb can have a positive effect. SomnIA has also developed technology which supposedly helps elderly people to nod off, including a pillow which plays soothing recorded sounds. It has also published a series of self-help books on the issue, as well as setting up a website for elderly people who have trouble sleeping, www.healthtalkonline.org.