Sleepless in the lab: study reveals how aging and All-Nighters wreck your brain
NCT ID NCT00804804
First seen Jun 27, 2026 · Last updated Jun 27, 2026
Summary
This study looked at how getting older and missing sleep affect thinking skills like attention and impulse control. 28 healthy volunteers stayed awake for 40 hours or took short naps in a controlled lab setting. Researchers tested their mental performance every few hours to see how sleep pressure and body clocks influence the brain.
What this could mean
Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only — not medical advice or a prediction.
- What this could lead to
- If successful, this study could help explain how sleep loss and aging affect decision-making and attention, pointing toward better sleep guidelines for older adults.
- What could go wrong
- This is a small, early-stage observational study with only 28 participants. It does not test any treatment, so findings may not apply broadly or lead directly to medical changes.
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As listed by the trial registrant
The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.
Contacts and locations
Locations
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Genpphass
Bordeaux, 33076, France
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Medes-Imps
Toulouse, 31405, France
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Uh Purpan
Toulouse, 31300, France
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