Health
Is artificial intelligence the secret to better sleep?
Artificial intelligence has made its way into drug development, surgery and medical advice — and now it’s helping people improve the quality of their sleep.
The Artificial Intelligence in Sleep Medicine Committee, which is part of the American Academy of Sleep Medicine, recently published a paper that highlights how AI is contributing to the field of sleep medicine.
The committee looked at how AI is assisting in three areas: clinical applications, lifestyle management and population health.
WHAT IS ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE (AI)?
Clinical applications involve the use of AI to diagnose and treat sleep disorders, while lifestyle management focuses on the use of consumer technology to track sleep data.
In the third area, population health, AI technology reveals a new approach to public health regarding sleep, according to Dr. Anuja Bandyopadhyay, chair of the Artificial Intelligence in Sleep Medicine Committee at Riley Children’s Hospital, Indiana University School of Medicine.
Artificial intelligence has made its way into drug development, surgery and medical advice — now it’s helping people improve their sleep quality. (iStock)
“Good quality and quantity of sleep is essential for good health,” Bandyopadhyay said in an interview with Fox News Digital.
“As sleep medicine doctors, we have been recommending that for years, but sleep is often the first thing to be sacrificed to make time for other competing interests.”
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For years, patients didn’t have access to tools to track their sleep or sleep habits, Bandyopadhyay said — which made it difficult for doctors to get the data they needed to assess the quality and quantity of sleep.
“With the advent of AI, we now have the ability to track sleep, identify patterns and recognize changes in other physiological parameters that can inform the clinician if something isn’t right,” she said.
“At the same time, this technology can help patients track their sleep and understand their sleep habits in a better way, empowering them to make positive changes for their own benefit.”
6 examples of AI in action for better sleep
Bandyopadhyay shared some specific examples of how AI can be used to help improve the quantity and quality of sleep.
No. 1 – Personalized sleep monitoring
“AI-powered devices can monitor sleep patterns more accurately through wearable technology and smart devices,” Bandyopadhyay told Fox News Digital.
“AI-powered devices can monitor sleep patterns more accurately through wearable technology and smart devices,” a sleep expert told Fox News Digital. (iStock)
“They can analyze data such as movement, heart rate and breathing to provide detailed insights into sleep quality.”
No. 2 – Sleep disorder diagnosis
AI algorithms can assist in diagnosing sleep disorders like insomnia, sleep apnea and narcolepsy by analyzing large datasets from sleep studies more efficiently than traditional methods, the expert noted.
No. 3 – Sleep recommendations
“AI can offer personalized sleep recommendations based on individual sleep patterns, lifestyles and health data,” Bandyopadhyay said.
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“This could include advice on sleep hygiene, optimal sleep times and relaxation techniques.”
No. 4 – Predictive analytics
AI can predict potential sleep issues by analyzing patterns and data trends, allowing people to take preventative measures before problems become severe.
“AI can be integrated into smart home systems to create environments conducive to better sleep,” according to the sleep expert. (iStock)
No. 5 – Smart sleep environments
“AI can be integrated into smart home systems to create environments conducive to better sleep,” said Bandyopadhyay.
This might include recommendations for adjusting lighting, temperature and sound based on individual sleep cycles.
No. 6 – Mental health integration
“Given the strong link between sleep and mental health, AI can help by providing holistic health insights and integrating sleep data with mental health assessments to offer comprehensive wellness solutions,” said Bandyopadhyay.
Risks, limitations of using AI for sleep
While advances in AI technology have been shown to help humans optimize everyday tasks and functions, experts urge caution.
“It is still a complex algorithm that requires sufficient training and supervision,” Bandyopadhyay said.
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“It would be naive to assume that AI can be autonomous and replace clinical expertise.”
All sleep disorders are different, the expert noted, with differences in symptoms and responses to various therapies.
“It is not a one-size-fits-all solution,” she said. “Hence, relying only on an AI-enabled algorithm to diagnose complex disorders may not be a good idea.”
Using AI to assist with sleep could help reduce physician burnout and improve access to care, according to experts. (iStock)
It’s also important to have layers of security in place, so that AI can be used in a responsible manner without compromising patient privacy, according to Bandyopadhyay.
“As generative AI gains popularity, we also need to think about ethical concerns and discuss who is responsible for the clinical contents or decisions,” she added.
Future of AI in sleep medicine
Sleep medicine is “well-positioned” to incorporate AI, Bandyopadhyay said, as it involves interpreting body signals and “complex psychosocial processes” that work in tandem with the environment.
“AI forms the perfect triad between clinicians and patients.”
“Untreated sleep disorders can lead to adverse cardiometabolic and neurocognitive outcomes, making the ability to monitor one’s sleep in a meaningful manner and utilize that clinical data to improve sleep a critical need for our field,” she said.
If used correctly, AI can also help to alleviate physician burnout and improve patients’ access to care, she said.
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“In the U.S., the estimated patient-to-physician ratio among sleep medicine doctors is 43,000 to 1,” Bandyopadhyay noted.
“There aren’t enough physicians, and that leads to poor access to care.”
In the U.S., the estimated patient-to-physician ratio among sleep medicine doctors is 43,000 to 1, according to one expert. (iStock)
“If I had a tool that could screen my patients for poor quality or quantity of sleep, summarize that data for me, help me document my conversations with the patient, and alert me if my patient is not using the therapy as prescribed, then I would certainly be able to direct all my time and effort into improving the care I provide to my patients.”
While AI is a powerful tool, Bandyopadhyay said clinicians must make sure to use it for “the right patient and the right cause.”
“AI forms the perfect triad between clinicians and patients, bridging the gap and empowering patients and clinicians to optimize good sleep health.”
For more Health articles, visit www.foxnews.com/health.
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Health
Daily multivitamins might not help you live longer, study finds: 'No differences in mortality'
Approximately one-third of U.S. adults report taking multivitamins, data shows — but a new study suggests that the daily practice won’t extend longevity.
Researchers from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) analyzed more than 20 years’ worth of data from 400,000 healthy U.S. adults, concluding that taking multivitamins did not reduce mortality risk.
“The analysis showed that people who took daily multivitamins did not have a lower risk of death from any cause than people who took no multivitamins,” the researchers wrote in a press release from NIH.
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“There were also no differences in mortality from cancer, heart disease or cerebrovascular diseases.”
Approximately one-third of U.S. adults report taking multivitamins, data shows. (iStock)
Those who took daily multivitamins were actually found to have a 4% higher mortality risk, according to the study, which was published in JAMA Network Open on Wednesday.
The average age of participants was 61-½, and 164, 762 deaths occurred during the follow-up period.
“People who use multivitamins may have healthier lifestyles in general, and sicker patients may be more likely to increase their use of multivitamins.”
Results were adjusted for factors including race, ethnicity, education and nutrition.
The study followed a 2022 analysis from the US Preventive Services Task Force, which concluded that there was “insufficient evidence” to determine whether multivitamin use improved mortality.
Those who took daily multivitamins were actually found to have a 4% higher mortality risk, according to the study, which was published in JAMA Network Open on Wednesday. (iStock)
By including larger numbers of participants and extending the follow-up for longer periods of time, the researchers aimed to account for potential biases that could have influenced the findings.
“For example, people who use multivitamins may have healthier lifestyles in general, and sicker patients may be more likely to increase their use of multivitamins,” they wrote in a press release from NIH.
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Pieter Cohen, associate professor of medicine at the Cambridge Health Alliance in Massachusetts, was not involved in the study but offered his feedback.
“This study provides further evidence that taking multivitamins, even for 20 years or more, won’t extend your life,” he told Fox News Digital.
“For healthy adults, there’s no reason to add on a multivitamin unless your doctor specifically recommends it.”
Doctor points out limitations
Dr. Brett Osborn, a Florida neurologist and longevity expert, was also not involved in the study but weighed in on the findings.
Dr. Brett Osborn, a Florida neurologist and longevity expert with Senolytix, is a proponent of daily multivitamins. (Dr. Brett Osborn)
“Key aspects of the study include its observational nature, the absence of a control group, and the variability in multivitamin formulations used by participants,” he said in an email to Fox News Digital.
(The researchers also acknowledged these limitations in their discussion of the study results.)
“Most multivitamins contain a broad spectrum of vitamins and minerals, but the concentrations can vary widely across brands and formulations,” a doctor said. (iStock)
“Observational studies like this one can suggest associations or correlations, but cannot prove causation due to the potential for confounding variables influencing both multivitamin use and mortality outcomes,” Osborn said.
While the researchers noted that they had adjusted for factors such as demographics, lifestyle behaviors and health status, Osborn said, “residual confounding remains a concern.”
The doctor also noted that lack of a control group makes it difficult to compare outcomes.
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“Without a control group, it’s challenging to separate the effects of multivitamins from those of other health behaviors or baseline health conditions that could influence mortality,” Osborn said.
The study also does not include controls for the specific formulation or dosage of multivitamins taken by participants, the doctor noted.
The study highlights the importance of “rigorous scientific inquiry” into the health benefits of multivitamins, a doctor said. (iStock)
“Most multivitamins contain a broad spectrum of vitamins and minerals, but the concentrations can vary widely across brands and formulations,” he said.
“Many commercially available multivitamins may not provide optimal levels of nutrients required for health benefits, potentially diluting any potential effects on longevity.”
In his practice, Osborn said, he recommends a multi-capsule daily multivitamin to his patients.
Vitamin usage is just one aspect of longevity, the doctor pointed out, along with genetics, lifestyle, socioeconomic status and access to health care, among other factors.
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“The multifactorial nature of longevity means that isolating the impact of multivitamins alone is complex and challenging, if not impossible,” Osborn said.
“There are just too many potentially confounding variables.”
The study highlights the importance of “rigorous scientific inquiry” into the health benefits of multivitamins, according to the doctor.
Vitamin usage is just one aspect of longevity, a doctor pointed out, along with genetics, lifestyle, socioeconomic status and access to health care. (iStock)
“In my opinion, multivitamins should be taken, as most Americans are malnourished — certainly not calorically, but in the context of vitamins and minerals.”
Looking ahead, the researchers emphasized the importance of measuring multivitamins’ impact on mortality in more diverse populations with different medical conditions and dietary habits.
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“It is important to evaluate multivitamin use and risk of death among different kinds of populations, such as those with documented nutritional deficiencies, as well as the potential impact of regular multivitamin use on other health conditions associated with aging,” they wrote.
Fox News Digital reached out to the study researchers for comment, as well as the vitamin manufacturers PharmaVite (NatureMade), Nestlé Health Science (Garden of Life and Nature’s Bounty), and Life Extension.
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