While the thyroid has long been linked to metabolism, research at Rutgers
University, Camden, NJ, is looking into the possibility that thyroid
hormones play a role in sleep.
 
The goal of the research—funded by a $415,369 grant from the National
Science Foundation—is to determine how and when thyroid hormones influence
the brain’s sleep mechanism. Findings could yield new knowledge on a
previously unknown sleep-regulatory substance. The researchers also hope to
explain why existing sleep drugs are not effective with all sleep-disordered
individuals.