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]]>The AASM has launched a new My Learning experience to help you more easily find and manage educational resources. The updated platform continues to provide the evidence-based resources you rely on while offering a more personalized experience.
The new My Learning features easier navigation and places the resources, tools, and information most relevant to you front and center. The streamlined experience makes it easier to navigate My Learning and manage your learning activities in one place.
When you first access the new My Learning, you will be guided through an onboarding process. Completing this optional process allows My Learning to tailor your experience to your needs and interests.
After onboarding, you can explore the updated platform and access the educational content and tools that support your professional development.
Whether you are earning CME credit, completing educational activities, or exploring new resources, the new My Learning experience helps you quickly connect with the content most relevant to your interests and practice. This personalized approach makes it easier to discover learning opportunities that support your ongoing professional development.
Log in to My Learning to complete onboarding and begin exploring the new platform today.
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]]>The post Study finds a smartwatch can help screen for obstructive sleep apnea appeared first on American Academy of Sleep Medicine – Association for Sleep Clinicians and Researchers.
]]>DARIEN, IL — New research suggests that a consumer smartwatch can help identify adults with moderate-to-severe obstructive sleep apnea, offering a way to screen for a common sleep disorder that often goes undiagnosed.
Results show that the Samsung Galaxy Watch demonstrated high accuracy for detecting moderate-to-severe obstructive sleep apnea among adults aged 22 and older. It correctly distinguished those with moderate-to-severe sleep apnea 94% of the time, with a 94% sensitivity and 67% specificity at its default setting. The device achieved 100% sensitivity and specificity among high-risk individuals with high hypoxic burden, a physiologic marker of low oxygen saturation in the blood.
“Our findings show that consumer smartwatches can make sleep apnea screening more accessible by identifying people at risk for moderate-to-severe obstructive sleep apnea,” said principal investigator Dr. Robson Capasso, professor of otolaryngology – head and neck surgery – at Stanford University. “These devices are not diagnostic, but by bringing validated screening into something people already wear every night, we may be able to identify risk earlier and shorten the path to evaluation and to low-risk, well-established therapies such as positive airway pressure and weight management.”
According to the American Academy of Sleep Medicine, obstructive sleep apnea is a common and serious sleep disorder in which breathing repeatedly stops or becomes restricted during sleep due to blockage of the upper airway. Untreated sleep apnea is associated with an increased risk of stroke, heart attacks, depression, and motor vehicle accidents.
The study was published Aug. 27 in the Journal of Clinical Sleep Medicine, the official publication of the AASM. It involved 147 adults with an average age of 54 years. Participants had a prior diagnosis of moderate-to-severe sleep apnea or a high pre-test likelihood of having it. They wore a Galaxy Watch 6 for two nights during sleep studies at the Stanford Health Care Sleep Medicine Center and for three nights at home. The Sleep Apnea Feature of the Galaxy Watch was compared with the results of the overnight sleep studies.
“One of the important aspects of this study is that we validated the smartwatch across multiple nights and multiple sleep apnea measures, including apnea-hypopnea index and hypoxic burden,” said lead author Arash Alavi, who has a doctorate in computer science and is director of software engineering at Stanford University’s Deep Data Research Center. “That kind of rigorous validation is important for clinical screening.”
According to the authors, the findings demonstrate that consumer sleep wearables can serve as an effective screening tool to help identify individuals who may benefit from formal diagnostic testing. While wearable technology is not intended to diagnose obstructive sleep apnea, it may help guide individuals toward timely evaluation and treatment.
Anyone who has signs of sleep apnea, such as habitual snoring and gasping or choking during sleep, should talk to a doctor or contact an AASM-accredited sleep center for help.
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The full title of the study is, “Smartwatch-based detection of moderate-to-severe and high-risk obstructive sleep apnea.” To arrange an interview with Dr. Robson Capasso or an AASM spokesperson, please contact the AASM at 630-737-9700 or media@aasm.org.
The authors disclosed that Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd. provided financial support and material for this study, and the Stanford Sleep Center and the Stanford Center for Clinical Research assisted with the trial. The Stanford REDCap and Box platforms were operated by the Stanford Medicine Research IT team. Capasso also serves on the Scientific Advisory Board for Restera Medical.
About the American Academy of Sleep Medicine
Established in 1975, the AASM is a medical association that advances sleep care and enhances sleep health to improve lives. The AASM membership includes more than 9,500 physicians, scientists, and other health care professionals who help people who have sleep disorders. The AASM also accredits 2,300 sleep centers that are providing the highest quality of sleep care across the country.
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]]>The post Coffee is no cure: Survey data highlight risks of drowsy driving appeared first on American Academy of Sleep Medicine – Association for Sleep Clinicians and Researchers.
]]>For many Americans, driving is an everyday necessity, but getting behind the wheel without enough sleep can have serious consequences. According to survey results from the American Academy of Sleep Medicine, 41% of adults say they have felt so sleepy while driving that it affected their ability to drive safely.
“Drowsy driving puts everyone on the road at risk,” said AASM President Dr. Fariha Abbasi-Feinberg. “It’s important to recognize the warning signs that you are too tired to drive. If you are yawning, drifting into other lanes, or nodding off, it’s time to pull over to get some sleep.”
Many of the adults who admitted to driving while sleepy have tried different strategies to keep themselves awake and alert behind the wheel:
“There is no strategy that can substitute for sufficient sleep,” added Abbasi-Feinberg. “A quick fix, like drinking coffee or a caffeinated beverage, may provide a temporary boost in alertness, but it cannot replace the restorative benefits of sleep. If you’re too sleepy, the safest choice is to stay off the road.”
Drowsiness affects drivers in different ways. Some drivers are less alert and reactive, while others have impaired judgement, making more frequent mistakes. Some may even slip into “microsleeps,” brief episodes where awareness drops out, potentially leading to a loss of vehicle control.
Research from the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety underscores the scope of the problem. Drowsy driving is a factor in more than one in six crashes, which is nearly eight times higher than federal estimates, and contributes to more than 6,000 deaths each year. The danger begins well before a driver falls asleep.
“Drowsy driving isn’t limited to nodding off behind the wheel,” said Jake Nelson, director of Traffic Safety Advocacy and Research at AAA. “Research from the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety has found that driving after getting only four hours of sleep is associated with a crash risk comparable to driving with a blood alcohol concentration of 0.08. Coffee, fresh air, or a loud radio may make you feel more alert temporarily, but they cannot replace sleep. If you become drowsy on the road, a 20- to 30-minute nap can help restore alertness for up to two hours. Before getting behind the wheel, ask yourself whether you’re truly rested enough to drive safely.”
In support of the National Sleep Foundation’s Drowsy Driving Prevention Week® (Nov. 1-7), the AASM recommends the following tips to help keep drivers safe on the road:
For more information about sleep health, or to find a local AASM-accredited sleep center, visit sleepeducation.org. View 2025 AASM Sleep Prioritization Survey results in the AASM newsroom.
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About the Survey
The American Academy of Sleep Medicine commissioned an online survey of 2,007 adults in the U.S. The overall margin of error fell within +/- 2 percentage points with a confidence interval of 95 percent. Fieldwork took place between June 5-13, 2025, by Atomik Research, an independent market research agency.
About the American Academy of Sleep Medicine
Established in 1975, the AASM is a medical association that advances sleep care and enhances sleep health to improve lives. The AASM membership includes more than 9,500 physicians, scientists, and other healthcare professionals who help people who have sleep disorders. The AASM also accredits 2,300 sleep centers that are providing the highest quality of sleep care across the country.
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]]>The post Talking Sleep | Pediatric Sleep Medicine: Expanding your Practice appeared first on American Academy of Sleep Medicine – Association for Sleep Clinicians and Researchers.
]]>In this episode of Talking Sleep, host Dr. Seema Khosla welcomes Dr. Binal Kancherla, Associate Professor of Pediatrics and Medical Director for the Sleep Program at Texas Children’s Hospital, to discuss how sleep medicine practitioners can thoughtfully expand their practice to include pediatric patients.
Many adult sleep medicine clinicians have considered adding pediatrics to their practice but weren’t sure where to start. Dr. Kancherla has created a comprehensive educational series addressing exactly this question—providing the clinical knowledge and practical framework needed to confidently treat children and adolescents with sleep disorders.
The landscape of pediatric sleep medicine has evolved significantly. Diagnostic approaches now include home sleep testing for appropriately selected adolescents, wearable technology, and refined polysomnography protocols specific to developmental stages. Sleep-disordered breathing in children presents differently than in adults, with updated assessment and treatment strategies. Meanwhile, insomnia and behavioral sleep issues in younger children are now understood through a more sophisticated lens that goes beyond simple behavioral management.
Pharmacotherapy in pediatrics raises important questions that clinicians treating adults may never encounter: How do you approach melatonin and magnesium supplementation that parents frequently use? What FDA-approved hypnotics exist for children, and when are they appropriate? These practical decisions require understanding pediatric-specific evidence and developmental considerations.
Pediatric sleep medicine encompasses conditions rarely seen in adult practice—parasomnias, circadian rhythm disorders in adolescents, restless leg syndrome in children, and pediatric narcolepsy. Recent advances in narcolepsy treatment create new clinical opportunities, though current approvals remain limited to adults, raising questions about future options for children.
Beyond disease-specific knowledge, Dr. Kancherla emphasizes building a pediatric sleep-informed practice—understanding workflow differences, family-centered communication, developmental considerations, and how to effectively partner with pediatric specialists and families.
Whether you’re considering expanding into pediatrics, curious about how pediatric sleep medicine differs from adult practice, or seeking to deepen your understanding of conditions you may encounter, this episode provides clinical guidance and inspiration for professional growth.
Join us for this practical conversation about expanding your sleep medicine practice to serve the youngest patients.
Dr. Binal Kancherla, MD, FAAP, FAASM, is the Medical Director of the Sleep Program at Texas Children’s Hospital and an Associate Professor of Pediatrics at Baylor College of Medicine in Houston, Texas. In her work, she focuses on pediatric sleep medicine and helping clinicians better understand the diagnosis and treatment of sleep disorders in children and adolescents. She has developed a comprehensive educational series to help adult sleep medicine practitioners build the clinical knowledge and practical skills needed to expand their practices to include pediatric patients.
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]]>The post Number of board-certified sleep medicine physicians is on the rise appeared first on American Academy of Sleep Medicine – Association for Sleep Clinicians and Researchers.
]]>The number of board-certified physicians in the U.S. with active certification in sleep medicine has increased for the third year in a row, according to data compiled by the American Board of Medical Specialties (ABMS) in the 2025 – 2026 edition of the ABMS board certification report.
ABMS data show there are 6,093 board-certified physicians in the U.S. with an active subspecialty certificate in sleep medicine recorded in the ABMS database as of June 30, 2026. This number has steadily risen over the last three years and represents an increase of 8.7% since 2023, when there were 5,607 sleep physicians in the U.S.
California has the most board-certified sleep physicians with 569, followed by Texas with 533, Florida with 367, and New York with 337. States with the fewest sleep physicians are Wyoming with three, Alaska with 11, and North Dakota and Maine with 14 each. There are also four board-certified sleep physicians in the U.S. military and 35 in U.S. territories.
Sleep medicine is one of 90 subspecialty certifications administered by member boards of the ABMS. To pursue a career in sleep medicine, physicians must complete a residency in internal medicine, neurology, psychiatry, pediatrics, family medicine, otolaryngology – head and neck surgery, or anesthesiology.
Then they must complete a one-year fellowship training program in sleep medicine. The sleep field has more than 100 certified fellowship programs, which train more than 200 physicians each year. A record number of 208 physicians matched with a sleep medicine training program last December for the 2026 appointment year.
To expand the pathways available for the sleep medicine specialty, the American Academy of Sleep Medicine (AASM) continues to pilot two training models as part of the Advancing Innovation in Residency Education (AIRE) initiative. Approved by the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME), these programs comprise a part-time model and a model blending sleep training with additional specialty training (such as pulmonary disease).
Following the completion of a fellowship training program in sleep medicine, physicians can take the board-certification examination in sleep medicine, which is offered annually by the American Board of Internal Medicine (ABIM), American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology (ABPN), American Board of Pediatrics (ABP), American Board of Family Medicine (ABFM), American Board of Otolaryngology – Head and Neck Surgery (ABOHNS), and American Board of Anesthesiology (ABA). The exam is based on a sleep medicine blueprint that evaluates the knowledge, diagnostic reasoning, and clinical judgment needed to make appropriate diagnostic and management decisions for patients who have sleep-related problems. Last year, 227 physicians took the sleep medicine exam for the first time. The next sleep medicine certification exam will be administered Nov. 10.
Sleep medicine is a medical subspecialty devoted to the diagnosis and management of sleep disorders. Common sleep disorders include insomnia, sleep-related breathing disorders such as obstructive sleep apnea, central disorders of hypersomnolence such as narcolepsy, circadian rhythm sleep-wake disorders, sleep-related movement disorders such as restless legs syndrome, and parasomnias such as sleepwalking.
Sleep physicians provide patient-centered care by leading multi-disciplinary teams that include other healthcare professionals such as nurse practitioners, physician assistants, respiratory therapists, sleep technologists, clinical psychologists, surgeons, and dentists. These teams of sleep professionals provide sleep and circadian care at more than 2,300 AASM-accredited sleep centers across the U.S.
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]]>The post ‘Fall back’ should be the last clock change, sleep experts tell lawmakers appeared first on American Academy of Sleep Medicine – Association for Sleep Clinicians and Researchers.
]]>DARIEN, IL — When Americans turn their clocks back one hour on Sunday, Nov. 1, they will once again participate in a practice most would rather leave behind. As Congress weighs competing proposals that would end seasonal clock changes, the American Academy of Sleep Medicine and the Coalition for Permanent Standard Time are urging lawmakers to adopt year-round standard time, the option that best aligns with human biology and supports healthier sleep, improved safety, and overall well-being.
Two bills currently before Congress would take different approaches to ending the annual clock changes. The Sunshine Protection Act (H.R. 139) would make daylight saving time permanent, resulting in later sunrises and darker mornings, particularly in the winter, which can disrupt sleep patterns and have implications for health and safety. The Sunshine for Our Kids Act (H.R. 9638) would establish permanent standard time nationwide, preserving morning light, which is essential for regulating sleep, mood, and alertness.
“Changing the clocks can have consequences for sleep, health, and safety, yet we require millions of Americans to do it twice a year,” said Dr. Karin Johnson, sleep medicine physician and co-chair of the coalition’s steering committee. “This should be the last time we ever have to change our clocks. Lawmakers have an opportunity to end this cycle for good by choosing permanent standard time for brighter mornings, better sleep, and safer streets.”
Sleep experts support permanent standard time because it aligns more closely with the body’s natural circadian rhythm, which is regulated in part by exposure to sunlight. Brighter mornings help synchronize the internal clock, making it easier to wake up, stay alert during the day, and maintain healthy sleep patterns. In contrast, permanent daylight saving time would create darker winter mornings, reducing exposure to the morning light that is critical for sleep, mood, and daytime functioning. The United States tried year-round daylight saving time before, but concerns about dark mornings and public safety quickly forced Congress to reverse course.
“Americans are tired of changing their clocks,” Johnson added. “As policymakers consider ways to end this practice, we encourage them to follow the science. Permanent standard time offers the best alignment with the body’s internal clock, making it the healthiest choice for sleep, safety, and well-being. The benefits are especially important for our adolescents and teens, who are particularly sensitive to the loss of morning light, helping to reduce depression and improve school performance.”
To navigate the “fall back” time change, the AASM recommends:
For more information about daylight saving time and to find additional resources from the AASM about sleep disorders, treatments, and sleep health, visit SleepEducation.org. Anyone who has a sleep problem can use the AASM’s sleep center directory to get help from the sleep team at an accredited sleep center.
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About the Coalition for Permanent Standard Time
Established in 2023, the Coalition for Permanent Standard Time is a dedicated group of diverse organizations and individuals that support the elimination of biannual clock change in the United States through the restoration of permanent standard time. The founding organizational members are the American Academy of Sleep Medicine, National Sleep Foundation, Save Standard Time, Sleep Research Society, and Society for Research on Biological Rhythms (ditchDST.com).
About the American Academy of Sleep Medicine
Established in 1975, the AASM is a medical association that advances sleep care and enhances sleep health to improve lives. The AASM membership includes more than 9,500 physicians, scientists, and other health care professionals who help people who have sleep disorders. The AASM also accredits 2,300 sleep centers that are providing the highest quality of sleep care across the country.
Position Statements
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]]>The post AASM Seeks Nominees for the 2027-2028 Board of Directors and Leadership Development Committee appeared first on American Academy of Sleep Medicine – Association for Sleep Clinicians and Researchers.
]]>The AASM invites qualified members to nominate themselves or encourage others to be considered for seats that will open in 2027 on the AASM Board of Directors or Leadership Development Committee. To qualify for service, nominees must be a full voting AASM member in good standing and must meet AASM’s conflict of interest standards.
Full details and instructions on the nominations process can be found by visiting the AASM Leadership Election & Board Nominations page.
Submissions will be accepted through November 16.
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]]>The post State of Sleep Medicine Report | 2026, Q3 appeared first on American Academy of Sleep Medicine – Association for Sleep Clinicians and Researchers.
]]>Exclusive content for AASM Members only. Get the latest updates, insights, and essential news from the field of sleep medicine, delivered exclusively to AASM members. Stay informed with timely updates on clinical guidelines, advocacy efforts, and professional opportunities. Log in or register to view the full content.
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]]>The post Talking Sleep | Oxytocin and Social Cataplexy appeared first on American Academy of Sleep Medicine – Association for Sleep Clinicians and Researchers.
]]>In this episode of Talking Sleep, host Dr. Seema Khosla welcomes Dr. Carrie Mahoney, a neuroscientist and faculty member in the Department of Neurology at Harvard Medical School and Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, to discuss her groundbreaking research on how oxytocin may regulate social cataplexy in narcolepsy.
With FDA approval of new narcolepsy medications, understanding the neural mechanisms underlying cataplexy has never been more clinically relevant. Dr. Mahoney’s research began with a simple but profound clinical observation: cataplexy attacks occurred reliably when patients laughed with close friends and family members, but rarely when joking with coworkers or strangers. This pattern of emotion-triggered muscle weakness in social contexts prompted investigation into whether oxytocin—the hormone associated with bonding and social connection—might play a role.
Dr. Mahoney explains social cataplexy and discusses whether most cataplexy episodes occur in social contexts. She traces how she came to hypothesize oxytocin’s involvement, moving from clinical observation to basic science investigation. The research explores how the amygdala—typically associated with fear—also processes other emotional responses including the joy and bonding feelings that characterize close relationships.
The episode walks through her research methodology. Using orexin knock-out mice (which model narcolepsy), Dr. Mahoney observed increased cataplexy during social interactions. She then systematically investigated oxytocin signaling in the amygdala to understand the mechanism. She employed advanced neuroscience techniques including chemogenetics and optogenetics—tools that allow precise manipulation and observation of specific neural circuits. The conversation clarifies what these approaches reveal about oxytocin’s role in triggering muscle atonia during emotional social situations.
A crucial ethical question emerges: If oxytocin facilitates social bonding but also triggers cataplexy, would blocking oxytocin eliminate this important neurochemical? Dr. Mahoney addresses whether targeted intervention might be possible without sacrificing the neurochemical foundation of human connection and social behavior.
The research faced significant setbacks during COVID-19, affecting experimental timelines and animal studies. Dr. Mahoney discusses how she navigated these disruptions and the collaborative nature of validating complex neuroscience findings. She co-published this work with John Peever, highlighting how competitive yet collaborative the field must be to advance understanding.
An intriguing comparison emerges: Just as AI models solving previously unsolved math problems require human validation, complex neuroscience discoveries need replication and independent confirmation. Dr. Mahoney explains how her research will be validated and what the competitive landscape looks like in basic sleep neuroscience.
The ultimate goal is translation to clinical benefit. Would oxytocin-targeted therapy be preventive medication taken before social events, or a daily medication to modulate cataplexy susceptibility? Dr. Mahoney discusses how she communicates detailed scientific findings to patients and clinicians in understandable language, acknowledging the collaboration with science communicators like Kara Weaver.
Her research extends beyond cataplexy—orexin knock-out mice are also being used to investigate menopause-related sleep changes, suggesting broader applications of her findings.
Whether you’re interested in narcolepsy pathophysiology, basic neuroscience approaches to understanding sleep disorders, or how fundamental research translates to clinical treatments, this episode illuminates the meticulous work underlying next-generation narcolepsy therapies.
Join us for this fascinating discussion about how curiosity-driven neuroscience research may transform how we treat cataplexy and understand the biology of narcolepsy
Carrie E. Mahoney, PhD, is a neuroscientist and faculty member in the Department of Neurology at Harvard Medical School and Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center. Her research investigates how hormonal state shapes neural circuits governing sleep, arousal, stress, and cognition. Her work combines molecular, cellular, neuroanatomical, and behavioral approaches, with a particular focus on how reproductive hormone loss during menopause alters orexin-mediated circuits and contributes to sleep and cognitive dysfunction.
Dr. Mahoney also studies the oxytocin system and its role in sleep, arousal, and social behavior, including mechanisms underlying socially triggered cataplexy and social cognition. Her research has been supported by the NIH and other national foundations, and her work has been published in journals including Nature Neuroscience, Journal of Neuroscience, and Molecular Psychiatry. She is committed to interdisciplinary collaboration and to mentoring the next generation of neuroscientists.
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]]>The post Get an early look at the new unattended sleep testing CPT codes appeared first on American Academy of Sleep Medicine – Association for Sleep Clinicians and Researchers.
]]>Although the 2027 Current Procedural Terminology (CPT) Professional Manual is not yet available, sleep medicine professionals can start preparing now for upcoming changes to unattended sleep testing codes.
The September 2026 issue of CPT Assistant, the American Medical Association’s official source for CPT coding guidance, includes information to help users understand the new and revised CPT coding. CPT Assistant provides detailed explanations, new codes, definitions, coding guidance, and clinical examples designed to support the proper application of CPT codes.
The 2027 CPT code set includes significant updates affecting sleep medicine and will take effect Jan. 1, 2027. Members who want to begin reviewing the unattended sleep testing changes before obtaining the 2027 CPT Professional manual can access CPT Assistant through the AMA’s CPT resources. The AMA also maintains an archive of previously published CPT Assistant articles for subscribers and users with access through compatible platforms.
Access the September 2026 CPT Assistant article: Learn more about CPT Assistant and access options through the AMA.
The AASM encourages sleep medicine professionals, coders, and billing teams to begin reviewing these changes now as they prepare for implementation of the 2027 CPT code set on Jan. 1, 2027.
Members may send questions about the new codes to coding@aasm.org.
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