In Case You Haven't Heard…

New research from Florida International University suggests anxiety may alter how the brain regulates sleep in preteens, according to a news release. In a study of children ages 10 to 13, researchers found that anxiety changed the relationship between sleep quality and the pineal gland, which produces melatonin and helps regulate the sleep‐wake cycle. Among highly anxious youth, greater amounts of melatonin‐producing pineal tissue were linked to longer times falling asleep and poorer sleep efficiency. Researchers found that anxiety did not affect pineal gland size itself but appeared to influence how pineal tissue volume related to sleep, pointing to a potential biological pathway connecting anxiety and sleep problems during a critical stage of development. The findings were published in Scientific Reports .