Normal health, development, and performance require normal sleep. However, millions of Americans fail to get an adequate night's sleep due to sleep disorders. Such disorders contribute to depression, heart disease, diabetes, obesity, learning disorders, chronic pain, and motor vehicle accidents. Research increasingly shows that disordered sleep and circadian rhythms have enormous impact on quality of life, productivity, pregnancy, childhood development, and aging. The cost implications are substantial, for our society, country, states, local communities, institutions, businesses, and families.
Sleep medicine is a relatively new field. Despite rapid advances, the public and academic medicine remain largely unaware of the central importance of adequate sleep. Moreover, much remains unknown about the mechanisms that underlie both healthy sleep and the illnesses that prevent it.
The main goal of the University of Michigan Center for Sleep Science is to advance knowledge and understanding in three areas:
The UM Center for Sleep Science spans several schools and more than a dozen departments. Its members include more than 70 faculty with an active interest in sleep and rhythms research. The Center for Sleep Science ties together accomplished investigators in clinical, human, translational, and preclinical research who share an overarching mission to help patients with sleep disorders realize better health, productivity, and quality of life through better sleep.