Bright-light before bedtime disrupts preschoolers sleep patterns, study suggests

Exposing preschoolers to bright light before bedtime is not a good idea, according to a new CU Boulder study. It almost completely shuts down their production of the sleep-promoting hormone melatonin, keeping it suppressed for at least 50 minutes after light's out, says lead author Lameese Akacem with the Sleep and Development Laboratory.

Beware - Bight-light before bedtime disrupts preschoolers sleep patterns

Children raised in a rural environment, surrounded by animals and bacteria-laden dust, grow up to have more stress-resilient immune systems and might be at lower risk of mental illness than pet-free city dwellers, according to new research. The study adds to mounting evidence supporting the "hygiene hypothesis," which theorizes that overly sterile environments can breed health problems, says co-author Christopher Lowry, a professor of integrative physiology at CU Boulder.

Chris Lowry on how growing up with pets may boost mental health.

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Chris Lowry on how growing up with pets may boost mental health.

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