UEA sleep lab opens doors for World Sleep Day
By: Communications
Researchers at the University of East Anglia will be throwing open the doors of their Sleep and Brain Research Unit to celebrate World Sleep Day on Friday, March 14.
UEA’s dedicated sleep and brain research unit is designed to study the profound effect that sleep has on our bodily functions.
Volunteers spending a night in the unit can expect to stay in a modern hotel-like en-suite room. But instead of a relaxing break – their every move will be overlooked by a team of sleep specialists.
As well as tours of the lab, members of the public will also be able to find out more about sleep research going on at UEA in a series of free talks.
From the effect of sleep on ageing, memory and dementia to how your gut health could affect your quality of sleep – the sessions will cover a range of topics from UEA’s leading sleep researchers.
Making sleep health a priority
Dr Alpar Lazar, from UEA’s School of Health Sciences and head of UEA’s Sleep and Brain Research Unit, said: “The theme for this year’s World Sleep Day is about making sleep health a priority, and that’s what we encourage everybody to do.
“Poor sleep can have really negative effects on our physical and mental health, so getting a good night’s sleep is very important.
“For World Sleep Day, we will be opening up our Sleep and Brain Research Unit, and members of the public will be able to have a look round and find out how we measure sleep and cognition in our research.
“We will also have a series of talks about the research happening at UEA, including the links between sleep and gut health, memory, balance control, healthy ageing and dementia.”
Sleep lab tours and a demonstration will take place from 12 noon – 1pm on March 14, followed by talks until 2pm.
The event is free, but places for the Sleep and Brain Research Open Day must be pre-booked online.
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