About: Alex

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Circadian Research Abounds at SLEEP 2019

August 11, 2019
Circadian Research Abounds at SLEEP 2019
I wrote the following article for the Circadian Sleep Disorders Network: On June 8 through the 12, the 2019 SLEEP Conference, the annual meeting of the American Academy of Sleep Medicine (AASM) and the Sleep Research Society (SRS), was held in San Antonio, TX. The 4-day conference presented and discussed the latest developments in clinical sleep medicine, and sleep and circadian research. There were more than 100 sessions, with 24 focused on circadian rhythms - a substantial…
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HB 1602 – ‘Healthy School Hours’ Bill in Texas

April 27, 2019
HB 1602 – ‘Healthy School Hours’ Bill in Texas
This legislative session in Texas, HB 1602 - 'the Healthy School Hours' Bill - was introduced to the House of Representatives. The bill would prevent all public schools in Texas from starting instruction before 8 am.  At the bill's hearing, Start School Later chapter leaders, a NAMI policy lead and a Santa Fe High School student testified in support of it. You can watch the bill's hearing in the Committee on Public Education here and read…
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Testifying to the Texas Senate for Start School Later

February 5, 2019
Testifying to the Texas Senate for Start School Later
During the interim session, the Texas Senate Education Committee held hearings to evaluate the Texas Education Code. Start School Later Texas proposed that Section 28.082 of the Education Code be amended to state that all Texas public schools should start no earlier than 8:00 am. As the chapter leader for SSL Greater Austin, I testified about the public safety and mental health benefits of beginning the academic day later in the morning. Of course, I made…
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“Just Go to Bed Earlier” (Work Rant)

November 28, 2018
“Just Go to Bed Earlier” (Work Rant)
A couple of of my bosses have advised me to "just go to bed earlier" as have many other people. Although most mean well, it's frustrating to hear and challenging to respond to diplomatically. If I could go to bed and fall asleep earlier, wouldn't I just do it? Early bird colleagues and friends can make late risers feel inferior fairly easily. After all, rising late is widely considered a moral failing - a culpable lack of willpower - like gluttony or infidelity. During…
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My Letter to Governor Jerry Brown Regarding SB 328 For Later School Start Times

September 19, 2018
My Letter to Governor Jerry Brown Regarding SB 328 For Later School Start Times
The Honorable Edmund G. Brown Jr. Governor, State of California State Capitol, First Floor Sacramento, CA 95814 RE: Senate Bill 328 – Request for Signature Dear Governor Brown: Please sign into law Senate Bill 328, a public health measure ensuring the health and safety of California adolescents. It would require the school day for middle schools and high schools to begin no earlier than 8:30 am by July 1, 2021. Frustrated by early school start…
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Nobel Prize Awarded to Body Clock Researchers

February 23, 2018
Nobel Prize Awarded to Body Clock Researchers
Validation ... at last. This year's Nobel Prize for Medicine was awarded to three American chronobiologists for their research on one of the genes that regulates the internal biological clock. The prestigious award will bring attention to how the human internal clock controls our circadian rhythms and therefore our sleep, and how some sleep disorders are physiological - not psychological  - problems. Drs. Jeffrey Hall, Michael Rosbash and Michael Young isolated the period gene, a…
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Using 23&Me and Promethease To Detect Sleep and Circadian Rhythm Disorders

December 12, 2017
Using 23&Me and Promethease To Detect Sleep and Circadian Rhythm Disorders
Since I was in my early twenties, I've suspected that my sleep disorders were genetic - inherited from my father's side of the family. Ten years ago, my suspicions were confirmed when UCSF Laboratories of Neurogenetics found "very interesting findings" regarding the 'night owl gene' in my genome. In the past year, I've learned more about my genes through 23&Me, a direct-to-consumer genetic test, and Promethease, a personal DNA health report service. 23&Me provides information on…
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CRY1 – The First Gene Mutation for Delayed Sleep Phase Disorder Discovered!

November 13, 2017
CRY1 – The First Gene Mutation for Delayed Sleep Phase Disorder Discovered!
Last month, Delayed Sleep Phase Disorder sufferers rejoiced as scientists announced the discovery of a mutation in the circadian gene, CRY1. This mutation slows the circadian clock, which controls behavior such as sleep/wake cycles. People with the “night owl” variant of CRY1 have a longer circadian cycle than most, causing them to stay awake later and have trouble getting up in the morning. The finding by The Rockefeller University substantiates what DSPD sufferers have long believed - that night owl tendencies are hardwired into one's genes.…
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Delayed Sleep Phase Syndrome Primer Video

September 27, 2017
This excellent video by Delayed Sleep Phase Disorder (DSPD) expert Dr. Peter Mansbach of the Circadian Sleep Disorders Network (CSDN) explains what DSPD is, the challenges it presents and possible causes. My favorite line is when Dr. Mansbach says (at 1:19) "this is REALLY hard for a person with normal sleep to understand." Exactly! By the way, you will notice that Delayed Sleep Phase Disorder is referred to as Delayed Sleep Phase Syndrome by some. An explanation of the…
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I Am the Night Watchman

September 15, 2017
Here's a short video from the brilliant folks at ASAPScience that highlights some of the differences between morning larks and night owls. Anthropologists theorize that delayed sleeping developed out of evolutionary necessity. In humans' early days, a person in the tribe was needed to stay up overnight to protect it against predators and keep the fire going, so to speak. Although it sounds a bit far fetched, this theory is plausible to me. As a chronic delayed sleeper, I have long suspected I…
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