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Brain Sciences
Special Issues
Advances in Global Sleep and Circadian Health
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Advances in Global Sleep and Circadian Health

A special issue of Brain Sciences (ISSN 2076-3425). This special issue belongs to the section "Sleep and Circadian Neuroscience".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 15 September 2025 | Viewed by 4265

Special Issue Editor

Prof. Dr. Lourdes DelRosso

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
School of Medcine, University of California San Francisco, Fresno, CA 93701, USA
Interests: sleep health; sleep-related movement disorders; sleep disparities
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Background:

The recognition of sleep health as a global public health priority has evolved over the past few decades. The emergence of sleep medicine as a specialized field, coupled with increased awareness of the critical role of sleep in overall well-being, has driven advances in research, clinical care, and public policy. Historical milestones include the establishment of international sleep societies, advancements in diagnostic technologies, and the growing integration of sleep health into global health frameworks by organizations such as the World Health Organization (WHO).

Aim and Scope of the Special Issue:

This Special Issue aims to highlight the latest findings in the definition and understanding of sleep health across diverse populations, regions, and socioeconomic contexts. Sleep health is increasingly recognized as a critical component of overall well-being, intersecting with physical, mental, and emotional health. By focusing on cutting-edge research, innovations, challenges, and opportunities in the field, we seek to foster a global and inclusive perspective on sleep health.

The scope of this Special Issue encompasses a wide range of topics, including technological breakthroughs, public health initiatives, translational research, and policy-driven approaches aimed at addressing sleep-related disparities and improving access to care. We will delve into how circadian biology plays a vital role in shaping individual and population sleep health, exploring how disruptions to the circadian system can exacerbate chronic health conditions and impair quality of life.

Additionally, we aim to examine the role of social determinants of health—such as socioeconomic status, race, ethnicity, occupation, and access to healthcare—in influencing sleep patterns, disorders, and outcomes. This Special Issue will also explore the intersection of sleep health with broader public health challenges, such as obesity, cardiovascular disease, and mental health, as well as strategies to overcome barriers to equitable care.

By emphasizing a multidisciplinary and global approach, this Special Issue seeks to inspire innovative solutions and collaborative efforts that address disparities, leverage emerging technologies, and promote sustainable models of care to improve sleep health for all.

Cutting-Edge Research:

The Special Issue will feature cutting-edge research in areas such as:

  • Current technology and applications in diagnosing and managing various sleep disorders;
  • Factors contributing to sleep and sleep health;
  • Studies addressing the understanding of sleep and sleep health as represented by regional, socioeconomic status, gender, and ethnicity;
  • Sleep and Chronic Diseases: Research on the interrelationships between sleep and conditions like cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and mental health;
  • Policy Interventions: Evaluations of programs and guidelines aimed at improving population-level sleep health.

Prof. Dr. Lourdes DelRosso
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Brain Sciences is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2200 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • global sleep health
  • sleep medicine
  • sleep disorders
  • sleep disparities
  • sleep diagnostics
  • circadian effects on sleep health
  • shift work disorder and productivity
  • chronic diseases and sleep
  • sleep and mental health
  • sleep health equity
  • representation in sleep research (age, gender)
  • primary care and sleep
  • social determinants of sleep health
  • cross-cultural sleep health

Benefits of Publishing in a Special Issue

  • Ease of navigation: Grouping papers by topic helps scholars navigate broad scope journals more efficiently.
  • Greater discoverability: Special Issues support the reach and impact of scientific research. Articles in Special Issues are more discoverable and cited more frequently.
  • Expansion of research network: Special Issues facilitate connections among authors, fostering scientific collaborations.
  • External promotion: Articles in Special Issues are often promoted through the journal's social media, increasing their visibility.
  • Reprint: MDPI Books provides the opportunity to republish successful Special Issues in book format, both online and in print.

Further information on MDPI's Special Issue policies can be found here.

Published Papers (2 papers)

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Research

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12 pages, 261 KiB  
Article
Sleep in Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis: An Exploratory Investigation of Heart Rate Variability
by M. C. Lopes, S. Roizenblatt, L. M. A. Soster and K. Spruyt
Brain Sci. 2025, 15(6), 648; https://doi.org/10.3390/brainsci15060648 - 17 Jun 2025
Viewed by 434
Abstract
Introduction: The monitoring of autonomic nervous balance during childhood remains underexplored. However, heart rate variability (HRV) is widely recognized as a biomarker of health risk across the lifespan. Juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA), a group of chronic inflammatory joint disorders, is associated with persistent [...] Read more.
Introduction: The monitoring of autonomic nervous balance during childhood remains underexplored. However, heart rate variability (HRV) is widely recognized as a biomarker of health risk across the lifespan. Juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA), a group of chronic inflammatory joint disorders, is associated with persistent inflammation and pain, both of which contribute to increased cardiovascular risk, commonly linked to reduced HRV. Among HRV parameters, very-low frequency (VLF) components have been associated with physiological recovery processes. This study aimed to assess HRV during sleep in patients with JIA. Methods: We studied 10 patients with JIA and 10 age-, gender-, and Tanner stage-matched healthy controls. All participants underwent polysomnographic monitoring following an adaptation night in the sleep laboratory. HRV was analyzed using standard time and frequency domain measures over 5 min epochs across all sleep stages. Frequency components were classified into low- and high-frequency bands, and time domain measures included the standard deviation of the beat-to-beat intervals. Group differences in HRV parameters were assessed using nonparametric tests for independent samples, with a significance level set at p < 0.05. Results: JIA exhibited greater sleep disruption than controls, including reduced NREM sleep, longer total sleep time, and increased wake time after sleep onset. HRV analyses in both time and frequency domains revealed significant differences between groups across all stages of sleep. In JIA patients, the standard deviation of the normal-to-normal interval during slow wave sleep (SWS) and total power across all sleep stages (p < 0.05) was reduced. In JIA patients, the standard deviation of the normal-to-normal interval during slow wave sleep and total power across all sleep stages were significantly reduced (p < 0.05). VLF power was also significantly lower in JIA patients across all sleep stages (p = 0.002), with pronounced reductions during N2 and SWS (p = 0.03 and p = 0.02, respectively). A group effect was observed for total power across all stages, mirroring the VLF findings. Additionally, group differences were detected in LF/HF ratio analyses, although values during N2, SWS, and REM sleep did not differ significantly between groups. Notably, the number of affected joints showed a moderate positive correlation with the parasympathetic HRV parameter. Conclusions: Patients with JIA exhibited sleep disruption and alterations in cardiovascular autonomic functioning during sleep. Reduced HRV across all sleep stages in these patients suggests underlying autonomic nervous dysfunction. Addressing sleep disturbances in patients with chronic pain may serve as an effective strategy for managing their cardiovascular risk. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Global Sleep and Circadian Health)

Review

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14 pages, 1080 KiB  
Review
Global Perspectives on Sleep Health: Definitions, Disparities, and Implications for Public Health
by Lourdes M. DelRosso
Brain Sci. 2025, 15(3), 304; https://doi.org/10.3390/brainsci15030304 - 13 Mar 2025
Viewed by 3423
Abstract
Sleep health is a multidimensional construct encompassing sleep quality, duration, efficiency, regularity, and alignment with circadian rhythms, playing a crucial role in overall well-being. Sleep health remains inconsistently defined across research and clinical settings despite its importance, limiting the ability to standardize assessments [...] Read more.
Sleep health is a multidimensional construct encompassing sleep quality, duration, efficiency, regularity, and alignment with circadian rhythms, playing a crucial role in overall well-being. Sleep health remains inconsistently defined across research and clinical settings despite its importance, limiting the ability to standardize assessments and interventions. Recent studies have emphasized the significance of defining sleep health beyond the absence of sleep disorders, integrating subjective and objective measures to assess its impact on physical and mental health outcomes. Disparities in sleep health exist across gender, socioeconomic status, and geographic regions, particularly in low- and middle-income countries where inconsistent work schedules, economic stress, and healthcare access influence sleep patterns. Poor sleep health is associated with increased risks of cardiovascular disease, obesity, metabolic dysfunction, and mental health disorders, reinforcing its role as a modifiable risk factor in public health. Lifestyle factors such as caffeine consumption, physical activity, and irregular eating patterns also contribute to sleep disturbances, highlighting the need for behavioral interventions. This narrative review aims to synthesize the current knowledge on sleep health, focusing on its definitions, measurement tools, global disparities, and associations. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Global Sleep and Circadian Health)
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