Category Archive for "Doctors & Insurance"

Patient Advocate Panelist at SLEEP 2023

August 27, 2023

In June, 3,500 sleep professionals converged on Indianapolis to learn about the latest research on sleep and sleep disorders at the SLEEP 2023 conference. I was invited to present a talk about Delayed Sleep Wake Phase Disorder (DSPD) on a patient advocacy panel entitled: Delay in Diagnosis: How Health Disparities, Lack of Awareness, and Payer Policies Ultimately Impact the Patient. It was organized and hosted by Dr. Raman Malhotra, a sleep specialist and past president…

Part 2 – My Patient Story on SRBR.org

March 1, 2021

This patient story was originally posted on Society for Research on Biological Rhythms (SRBR) Night owls have organized and our ranks are growing. Groups like the Circadian Sleep Disorders Network and B-Society are advocating for people with late chronotypes – building awareness of flexible work and school schedules, reducing stigma, and increasing federal funding for sleep research. Late chronotypes (“night owls”) are awake when most people are sleeping for different reasons. Some have a preference or habit for staying up late,…

Using 23&Me and Promethease To Detect Sleep and Circadian Rhythm Disorders

December 12, 2017

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…

CRY1 – The First Gene Mutation for Delayed Sleep Phase Disorder Discovered!

November 13, 2017

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.…

UCSF Study – Part 1, My Time as a Guinea Pig

August 26, 2017

Ten years ago, I participated in a DNA study at UCSF Mission Bay's Laboratories of Neurogenetics. Overlooking the San Francisco Bay, the lab focuses on human genetics and developmental neuroscience. By studying families with neurological phenotypes (which means 'heritable genetic identity'), UCSF researchers are identifying genes that cause various disorders of the nervous system, such as Parkinson's disease and multiple sclerosis. In 2006, the labs had started to research circadian sleep disorders and, naturally, I was eager to learn…

Treatments for Delayed Sleep Phase Disorder

July 25, 2017

Here’s a partial list of the “treatments” I’ve tried so far: Light Therapy: Bright light therapy (10,000 lux light box, Feel Bright Light visor, Golite Blue Energy Light, etc.) in the morning. Light restriction (a.k.a. darkness therapy) via blue-light blocking glasses, black out curtains, f.lux on various screens. Using dim red-filtered light to avoid polychromatic and blue light in the evening. “Natural” Remedies: Valerian, passionflower extract, milky oats, catnip, skull cap, hops, teas, strong chamomile tea, natural GABA…

Cortisol Levels Over A 24-Hour Period

July 15, 2017

This graph shows the peak cortisol release over a 24-hour period for a "typical" person (it peaks around 8 am). I recently did an at-home cortisol saliva test - I collected samples four times (morning, noon, evening, and at bedtime) throughout the day. Since my sleep is delayed about four hours from a "normal" person, I did my morning sample at 11 am, my noon sample at 3 pm, my evening sample at 9 pm and my bedtime sample…

Blame Your Parents – It’s Your Genes

July 1, 2017

Evidence continues to mount that certain types of sleep behaviors are governed by our genes. Some of the genes implicated in circadian rhythm sleep disorders are Period (PER1, PER2 and PER3) genes. For those who suffer from Delayed Sleep Phase Syndrome, one of the culprits is a mutation (or 'variation') of the PER3 gene. This research is not new - here's an excerpt from a study in a 2003 issue of Sleep magazine: "The Per3 polymorphism correlated significantly with extreme diurnal preference, the longer…

Delayed Sleeper

Category Archives: Doctors & Insurance