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Discomfort and sleep irregularities frequently coexist — over 30% of the U.S. populace endures discomfort, and a substantial number of those suffering also report sleep complications — yet the connection between the two remains significantly underexplored.

Recently, investigators at WashU Medicine have created a novel mouse model that replicates the sleep interruptions experienced by individuals dealing with chronic discomfort — offering a robust instrument to examine how the two are biologically intertwined. Jose Moron-Concepcion, PhD, the Henry E. Mallinckrodt Professor of Anesthesiology; Erik Musiek, MD, PhD, the Charlotte & Paul Hagemann Professor of Neurology; and Khairunisa Ibrahim, PhD, a research instructor in Moron-Concepcion’s laboratory, discovered that rodents suffering from chronic pain experienced increased sleep during normal waking hours compared to those without chronic pain, mirroring the excessive daytime drowsiness often noted in individuals with chronic discomfort. Sleep irregularities associated with pain can profoundly hinder daily activities, diminish life quality, and escalate healthcare expenses.

The research was published on June 22 in Neuropsychopharmacology and provides a framework for future translational studies aimed at enhancing sleep in those experiencing chronic discomfort.

The post Mouse study links chronic pain to disrupted sleep patterns first appeared on The Source.

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