Sex-specific Effect of Restricted Sleep on Brain Health

Transcranial Doppler (TCD) is a non-invasive diagnostic tool used to estimate cerebral blood flow velocity (CBFV), cerebral autoregulation, cerebrovascular reactivity (CVR), intracranial pressure, cerebral perfusion pressure as well as other indicators of cerebral hemodynamics and autoregulation. Whereas TCD has been widely used in research, clinical, and outpatient settings, studies specifically designed to examine the effect of limited sleep on brain health and potential impact of sex are sparse. Thus, the present study will investigate sex-specific differences in cerebral blood flow under conditions of normal and restricted sleep. Investigators will conduct measures of CBFV and CVR on two separate days under tightly controlled experimental conditions. This study hypothesizes greater morning cerebral blood flow velocity following a night of normal sleep compared to restricted sleep. This study further hypothesize the effect of sleep restriction on CBFV and CVR will be greater in males compared to females. Results from the present study will provide important data necessary to develop future, well-controlled studies examining the impact of long-term modifications in exercise and/or sleep on cerebral hemodynamics and, by extension, risk for cerebrovascular events (i.e. stroke).