SLEEP highlights for PCPs: Effects of alcohol before bed; restless legs syndrome treatment

Last week, thousands of health care professionals gathered at the annual SLEEP meeting for the latest updates on sleep medicine.

The meeting is held by the Associated Professional Sleep Societies, which is a collaboration between the American Academy of Sleep Medicine and the Sleep Research Society.

During the conference, Mary A. Carskadon, PhD, a professor of psychiatry and human behavior at Alpert Medical School of Brown University, and colleagues presented data that showed drinking alcohol before sleep significantly slowed reaction times up to 4 hours after waking. Even with adequate sleep, the researchers found that reaction times still suffered after 3 consecutive nights of drinking.

Another presentation focused on guidelines for restless legs syndrome, which no longer recommend dopamine agonists as a first-line treatment. John Winkelman, MD, PhD, chief of the sleep disorders clinical research program at Massachusetts General Hospital, told Healio that first-line treatments now include iron, alpha2-delta agents or long-acting opioids.

Catch up on these and more updates from SLEEP below:

Alcohol consumption before sleep negatively affects next-day performance

Results of a study demonstrated that alcohol consumed within 1 hour of bedtime had a negative effect on psychomotor vigilance performance the next day. Read more.

VIDEO: Dopamine no longer first-line treatment for restless legs syndrome

The guidelines for restless legs syndrome treatment no longer indicate dopamine agonists as a first-line choice. Watch video.

Exposure to near-infrared light before bed linked to better sleep, daytime function

Transdermal exposure to near-infrared light before bed via a wearable device was linked to improved sleep, relaxation and next-day functionality compared with sham, research shows. Read more.

Increased education, clearer guidelines needed on melatonin use in children

In a session on melatonin use in children, Judith Owens, MD, MPH, aimed to pique discussion among attendees about the challenges of talking with parents and families about the supplement’s use in this patient population. Read more.

Keynote speaker: ‘Sleep, circadian rhythm are inseparable’

Circadian disorder is the flagship of sleep-wake disorders, Phyllis C. Zee, MD, PhD, said in her keynote address. Read more.