Grant: CIHR Café Scientifique Program

Sleep is essential to maintain a healthy life. However, an estimated 3.3 million Canadians age 15 or older have problems getting enough sleep, due to either the fast paced lifestyle or to sleep disorders, and therefore become sleep deprived. After a few days of sleep deprivation, people develop memory loss, metabolism problems and poor athletic performance. In the long term, sleep deprivation can increase the risk of more serious health problems, such as weakened immune system, diabetes, depression obesity and high blood pressure. Unfortunately, people often underestimate the consequences of sleep deprivation. For this reason, continued research into the causes and treatment of sleep deprivation, as well as a sustained effort in public education on its consequences, are seriously required. Because of these needs, the Italian Scientific Community in Canada (CSIC) is dedicated to the organization of this public information forum. This application is for CIHR funding for one Café Scientifique focused on four separate topics: memory, child and adult diseases related to sleep deprivation and the relation between pain and sleep.