Complete, restful sleep may boost not only psychological but also immune system memories, according to latest research.

In an opinion piece published in Trends in Neurosciences on Sept. 29, researchers said that deep sleep may “strengthen immunological memories of previously encountered pathogens” – meaning the immune system can better remember bacterial or viral encounters through creating memory T-cells, which last for months to years and help the body recognize previous infections and respond quickly.

Are you living in a sleep-deprived state? A new study published in the National Sleep Foundation’s journal Sleep Health has mapped out the counties in each state throughout America with the best and worst sleep quality. The findings reveal a pattern to United States’ sleep deprivation.

“Sleep is more than a physiologic process. Understanding the context of sleep will help us understand how and where to target our efforts,” the study’s lead author Michael Grandner, an assistant professor of psychiatry at the University of Arizona, told The Guardian. “It is possible that improving sleep at the population level will be key to improving the public health.”

New research suggests that a good night's sleep may play an important role in helping protect the brain against memory decline associated with Alzheimer's.

Researchers at the University of California-Berkeley found that a deficit in deep non-REM sleep, a sleep cycle associated with memory retention, was associated with a higher risk of buildup of brain proteins which are believed to play a role in triggering Alzheimer's disease. The buildup of toxic beta-amyloid proteins in the brain then leads to further sleep deprivation, resulting in a vicious cycle.

A new study published in Sleep has reinforced the importance of getting a good night's sleep. Researchers have demonstrated that not getting enough sleep could increase the risk of catching a cold.

The team reports that people who only get 6 hours sleep a night or less are four times more likely to catch a cold after exposure to the virus than people that get 7 or more hours sleep a night.

New research shows a good night's rest isn't a luxury - it's critical for your brain and for your health

When our heads hit the pillow every night, we tend to think we’re surrendering. Not just to exhaustion, though there is that. We’re also surrendering our mind, taking leave of our focus on sensory cues, like noise and smell and blinking lights. It’s as if we’re powering ourselves down like we do the electronics at our bedside–going idle for a while, only to spring back into action when the alarm blasts hours later.