Research

Thesis title: "How is sleep duration and quality related to body composition, muscle function, performance, and training adaptation?"

Thesis outline:

Sleep is a fascinating and complex subject, and recent research has highlighted its critical role in various aspects of health. Despite numerous studies, many questions about sleep remain unanswered, particularly regarding its impact on muscle health, body composition, and exercise.

Research consistently shows that poor sleep is linked to a higher risk of serious health issues and diseases, including cardiovascular problems, mental health disorders, cognitive impairments, and reduced physical function. It is also evident that sleep affects muscle health and body composition throughout life. For instance, studies have found that both very short and very long sleep durations are associated with higher risks of sarcopenia—a condition characterized by muscle loss and weakness that can lead to disability and higher healthcare costs. Additionally, poor sleep quality exacerbates this risk. Sleep has also been shown to influence obesity across all age groups, with poor sleep contributing to weight gain.

Furthermore, sleep deprivation can impair physical performance, reducing strength and endurance, which in turn affects the effectiveness of exercise and training programs.

One promising solution for combating sarcopenia and obesity is exercise. However, inadequate sleep can limit physical performance, thereby affecting how well one can handle intense exercise and adapt to training. For example, sleep restriction has been shown to reduce maximum strength output, potentially requiring adjustments in training intensity. Poor sleep quality and extreme sleep durations have also been linked to decreased physical function in older adults, making it harder for them to engage in effective exercise routines.

Moreover, sleep disruptions affect hormone regulation crucial for muscle growth and repair. Disrupted slow-wave sleep, which is important for growth hormone release, can impair muscle adaptation to resistance training.

The goal of this research project is to explore how sleep affects muscle function and body composition across different ages and to understand how exercise interacts with sleep. The research aims to answer several key questions:

  1. Association with Older Adults: How do self-reported sleep parameters relate to body composition and physical function in older adults?
  2. Acute Sleep Deprivation: What effects does acute sleep deprivation have on strength and endurance in young adults?
  3. Training Adaptations: How do changes in sleep duration and quality impact the outcomes of resistance training in middle-aged and older adults?

To address these questions, a series of studies will be conducted. The first study will use a “citizen science” approach to gather data from older adults across Austria to examine sleep’s impact on body composition and physical function. The second study will investigate how short-term sleep fragmentation affects strength and endurance in young adults. The third study will assess how baseline sleep patterns influence training results during a 12-week strength training program in middle-aged and older adults.

By better understanding these relationships, we hope to develop comprehensive, evidence-based recommendations for improving sleep, enhancing physical health, and optimizing exercise outcomes.

Funding: University Assistant (predoctoral)

Supervisor: Robert Csapo, Advisor: Barbara Wessner

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