Saxena Lab

In the News

Our research is featured in the news items below.

Habitual Daytime Napping by Adults Has Cardiometabolic Consequences

MGH Advances in Motion

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April 30, 2022
Researchers at Mass General Brigham have now uncovered evidence that daytime napping and daytime sleepiness should be considered related, although distinct, features of the impaired arousal continuum, and that habitual daytime napping has causal effects on cardiometabolic health.

Eating Dinner Late Ups Diabetes Risk; Melatonin Involved

Medscape

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February 8, 2022
Eating dinner close to bedtime when endogenous melatonin levels are high is associated with decreased insulin secretion and decreased glucose tolerance, which increase the risk of type 2 diabetes.

How timing of dinner and genetics affect blood sugar level control

Health Europa

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January 26, 2022
Genetics of Circadian Rhythms Research Area

Randomized controlled trial offers insights on how the timing of dinner and genetics affect individuals’ blood sugar control

MGH Press Release

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January 25, 2022
Key Takeaways
  • Eating dinner close to bedtime, when melatonin levels are high, disturbs blood sugar control, especially in individuals with a genetic variant in the melatonin receptor MTNR1B, which has been linked to an elevated risk of type 2 diabetes.
  • The high melatonin levels and food intake associated with late eating impairs blood sugar control in carriers of the MTNR1B genetic risk variant through a defect in insulin secretion.

Numerous Genetic Variants Are Linked With Differences In Food Intake

MGH Advances in Motion

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November 19, 2021

The science of siestas: New research reveals the genetic basis for daytime napping.

Science News

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February 10, 2021
Researchers identified 123 regions in the human genome that are associated with daytime napping and three distinct mechanisms that promote napping. Many napping-related genes also regulate other aspects of sleep.