Send us a text

Do you struggle with sleep? You're far from alone—especially if you've served in the military. In this fascinating deep dive, research scientist Lindsay Hildebrand reveals how the disrupted sleep patterns military personnel experience can persist long after service ends, potentially leading to serious health consequences.
Sleep isn't just about feeling rested. As Hildebrand explains, it's a critical biological process with profound implications for brain health. Poor sleep quality strongly correlates with earlier onset of conditions like Alzheimer's and Parkinson's. For veterans trapped in the vicious cycle of anxiety preventing sleep and sleep deprivation worsening anxiety, this connection is particularly troubling.
But there's hope on the horizon. Hildebrand's work with the Social, Cognitive and Affective Neuroscience (SCAN) Lab focuses on groundbreaking non-pharmaceutical approaches to sleep disorders. Their research into Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS) yielded remarkable results—just 40 seconds of targeted stimulation significantly improved sleep quality by quieting the brain's default mode network, responsible for those racing thoughts keeping you awake.
Even more accessible is their light therapy research, now recruiting for the largest Department of Defense light therapy study ever conducted. This completely remote study provides specially designed glasses participants wear for just 30 minutes each morning, potentially resetting disrupted circadian rhythms without medication.
What makes these approaches revolutionary is their simplicity and effectiveness. Rather than just treating symptoms, they address underlying neurobiological processes, potentially breaking the sleep-anxiety cycle that plagues so many veterans.
Want to participate or learn more? Active duty personnel from any branch and veterans separated within the last five years may qualify for the nationwide light therapy study. Visit the SCAN Lab website through the University of Arizona to see if you're eligible to contribute to this groundbreaking research—and possibly transform your sleep in the process.