Talking Sleep

In this episode of Talking Sleep, host Dr. Seema Khosla welcomes Dr. Luca Baldelli, a neurologist from the University of Bologna and Treasurer-Elect of the International REM Sleep Behavior Disorder Study Group, to discuss breakthrough research on predicting which RBD patients will develop neurodegenerative diseases.

Building on the AASM's updated RBD guidelines, Dr. Baldelli...

In this episode of Talking Sleep, host Dr. Seema Khosla sits down with Dr. Natalie Hauglund to discuss a groundbreaking mouse study on how the popular sleep medication zolpidem affects the brain’s natural cleaning system during sleep.

Building on Dr. Maiken Nedergard's award-winning work on the glymphatic system, Dr. Hauglund's latest study published in Nature reveals surprising findings about how sleep medications may interfere wi...

In this episode of Talking Sleep, Drs. Michelle Cantwell and Aaron Glick discuss the updated American Academy of Dental Sleep Medicine (AADSM) Standards for Practice.

Dr. Michelle Cantwell received her DMD through the University of Pittsburgh's School of Dental Medicine, where she also completed a three-year residency in prosthodontics. Following dental school, she served as...

In this episode of Talking Sleep, host Dr. Seema Khosla welcomes Dr. Jared Saletin, a sleep researcher investigating the complex relationship between sleep and Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). 

While ADHD diagnostic criteria don't currently include sleep assessment, Dr. Saletin's groundbreaking research reveals how sleep quality and timing may significantly impact attention, particularly in children. Through fMRI st...

In this episode, Dr. Seema Khosla examines the complexities of central sleep apnea  (CSA) with sleep medicine experts Dr. Vaishnavi Kundel, Dr. Rami N. Khayat, and Dr. Aneesa Das. The discussion moves beyond basic definitions to explore the critical limitations of home sleep apnea testing in accurately detecting CSA and when in-lab polysomnography becomes essential.  The conversation addresses important clinical distinctions betwee...

In this episode, Dr. Seema Khosla explores the critical issue of clinician burnout with Dr. Venktesh Ramnath, Associate Clinical Professor at UC San Diego. Moving beyond typical wellness advice, Dr. Ramnath offers practical strategies for addressing burnout at its systemic roots rather than treating it as an individual failure. 

The conversation examines how to recognize true burnout versus temporary fatigue and challenges the comm...

In this episode, Dr. Seema Khosla talks with women's sleep expert Dr. Safia Khan about women's unique sleep challenges. Dr. Khan is an editor for "A Clinical Casebook of Sleep Disorders in Women" and specializes in women's sleep health at UT Southwestern. She explains how sleep disorders affect women differently across their lives, particularly during pregnancy and menopause, and how these transitions disrupt normal sleep patterns....

In this episode, host Dr. Seema Khosla explores a transformative development in sleep medicine: the FDA approval of tirzepatide for obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). Joined by an expert panel including Dr. Atul Malhotra, lead investigator of the SURMOUNT-OSA trial, and specialists Dr. Radhika Breaden, Dr. Jeremy McConnell, and Dr. Rafael Sepulveda-Acosta, the discussion examines how sleep clinicians can effectively incorporate this gr...

In this episode, host Dr. Seema Khosla explores a provocative question in sleep medicine: Could high pressure PAP therapy have unexpected inflammatory effects? Joined by Dr. Sanja Jelic from Columbia University and Dr. Daniel Gottlieb from Brigham and Women's Hospital, the discussion examines emerging research that challenges conventional wisdom about positive airway pressure (PAP) therapy. 

Discover groundbreaking findings on how ...

In this episode, host Dr. Seema Khosla tackles a critical question in sleep medicine: What defines "well-treated" obstructive sleep apnea? Joined by Dr. Barry Krakow, a pioneering sleep medicine physician, the discussion explores the nuanced approach to assessing sleep apnea treatment beyond traditional metrics. 

Discover insights into clinical endpoints for evaluating OSA treatment, the complex relationship between upper airway co...

In this episode, host Dr. Seema Khosla explores KPAP, a new PAP therapy innovation with Dr. David White, former AASM president, and Dr. William Noah, inventor of the V-com device. Learn about this new technology that promises to make positive airway pressure more comfortable while still remaining effective for sleep apnea patients.

Discover the science behind KPAP, its poten...

In this episode, host Dr. Seema Khosla explores the new Apple Watch sleep apnea screening algorithm with Dr. Matt Bianchi, a research scientist from Apple's Health Technologies team. Learn about the innovative technology that monitors sleep patterns and potentially identifies sleep apnea risk through advanced wearable device capabilities. 

Discover how this algorithm uses accelerometry and breathing disturbance detection to screen ...

In this episode, host Dr. Seema Khosla examines a crucial clinical question: how reliable is the residual AHI measured by PAP devices? Experts Dr. Robert Thomas, Dr. Tavi Ioachimescu,  and Dr. Imran Iftikhar analyze the accuracy of PAP downloads, brand differences in measurement, and implications for patient care. Through meta-analysis findings and clinical research, they explore stable versus unstable ...

In this episode, host Dr. Seema Khosla welcomes Dr. Maya Schenker, a postdoctoral researcher from the University of Melbourne, who has dedicated her research to understanding the complex relationship between sleep and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). With a focus on the bidirectional mechanisms linking sleep and trauma, Dr. Schenker explores how sleep can be a critical intervention point for managing and potentially preventin...

In this episode, host Dr. Seema Khosla welcomes Dr. Danny J. Eckert, a sleep and respiratory physiologist and professor at Flinders University in Adelaide, Australia. Dr. Eckert is a leading expert in his field and the recipient of the 2023 European Respiratory Society Gold Medal in Sleep-Disordered Breathing. As the Director of the Adelaide Institute for Sleep Health, he discusses his groundbreaking wo...

There was a recent consensus statement from the Society of Anesthesia and Sleep Medicine and the Society for Obstetric Anesthesia and Perinatology on the screening, diagnosis, and treatment of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) in pregnancy. For too many, a sleep evaluation is deferred until the pregnancy is over, with the idea that pregnancy-related sleep disorders will resolve at the end of the pregnancy. ...

The AASM is introducing a new service-based accreditation model and updated Standards for Accreditation, which will take effect in January 2025. Based on feedback from members and accredited programs, this accreditation model provides greater flexibility to accommodate all practice types, making it easier to manage, add, and remove accredited services. Changes to the Standards for Accreditation were also made to remove barriers and...

Dr. Richard Blackburn is a sleep psychologist who is attempting to improve access to cognitive behavioral therapy for insomnia (CBT-I) and other behavioral therapies for sleep disorders. He has a psychologist training program as well as a telemedicine practice, and he hopes to increase the availability of sleep behavioral therapy by increasing the pipeline and expanding access via telemedicine. He expla...