Professor Guy Leschziner

Why? Well, I think the first thing is that we spend a third of our lives doing it, and yet whatever people like me will tell you, we still understand relatively little about it. We understand relatively little about sleep, what it's for, what it does to our biology. Obviously, that's changing very, very quickly now. It has a great deal of overlap with the world of clinical neurology.

Why? Well, I think the first thing is that we spend a third of our lives doing it, and yet whatever people like me will tell you, we still understand relatively little about it. We understand relatively little about sleep, what it's for, what it does to our biology. Obviously, that's changing very, very quickly now. It has a great deal of overlap with the world of clinical neurology.

So I also do specialist clinics in epilepsy, and I do specialist clinics in general neurology. And sleep and the brain intersect at every single level. Of course, it's not me saying this, but a famous statement is, Sleep is of the brain, by the brain and for the brain. It's intimately linked to every aspect of how our brain works.

So I also do specialist clinics in epilepsy, and I do specialist clinics in general neurology. And sleep and the brain intersect at every single level. Of course, it's not me saying this, but a famous statement is, Sleep is of the brain, by the brain and for the brain. It's intimately linked to every aspect of how our brain works.

So one of the really exciting things is that because it's a relatively new area, our understanding of it is exploding in ways that are not paralleled across other areas of clinical medicine. Is it important? Is it important? Yeah. I think it is of fundamental importance. You know, the fact is that if sleep wasn't important, it would be a very stupid thing for evolution to create in us.

So one of the really exciting things is that because it's a relatively new area, our understanding of it is exploding in ways that are not paralleled across other areas of clinical medicine. Is it important? Is it important? Yeah. I think it is of fundamental importance. You know, the fact is that if sleep wasn't important, it would be a very stupid thing for evolution to create in us.

The fact that we are essentially switched off from our external environment for a third of our lives. And actually, there's a whole host of evidence when you look at how... Certain animals have developed the ability to be able to sleep with only half their brain at a time.

The fact that we are essentially switched off from our external environment for a third of our lives. And actually, there's a whole host of evidence when you look at how... Certain animals have developed the ability to be able to sleep with only half their brain at a time.

You know, animals like aquatic mammals or certain birds and dolphins that very much suggests, well, you know, that must be of great importance. If sleep is a risk for our survival, because if you're an aquatic mammal like a dolphin...

You know, animals like aquatic mammals or certain birds and dolphins that very much suggests, well, you know, that must be of great importance. If sleep is a risk for our survival, because if you're an aquatic mammal like a dolphin...

and you're sleeping and you're unable to surface or unable to see what predators are around you, that evolution has designed a system whereby it enables you to sleep with half of your brain at a time. So that in and of itself tells us it's important. The fact that the circadian rhythm, so that 24-hour cycle that...

and you're sleeping and you're unable to surface or unable to see what predators are around you, that evolution has designed a system whereby it enables you to sleep with half of your brain at a time. So that in and of itself tells us it's important. The fact that the circadian rhythm, so that 24-hour cycle that...

whole host of biological rhythms have is so intrinsically linked to life itself that actually every single life form exhibits features of this 24-hour circadian rhythm tells us that this was something that was prioritized at a very very early stage in life's evolution on earth and So, yes, it's important. And over the last few years, we've understood precisely why it's important.

whole host of biological rhythms have is so intrinsically linked to life itself that actually every single life form exhibits features of this 24-hour circadian rhythm tells us that this was something that was prioritized at a very very early stage in life's evolution on earth and So, yes, it's important. And over the last few years, we've understood precisely why it's important.

I say precisely, but we know that it's important for pretty much every aspect of our waking lives, be it our immune system, be it our cardiovascular system, our blood pressure, risk of diabetes, etc.

I say precisely, but we know that it's important for pretty much every aspect of our waking lives, be it our immune system, be it our cardiovascular system, our blood pressure, risk of diabetes, etc.

uh mental health so depression and anxiety even how we perceive pain so it really is fundamental to every system that we uh rely on during our waking lives having seen you know thousands and thousands and thousands of people that struggle with sleep that have been sent to your center do you think the the average person on the street

uh mental health so depression and anxiety even how we perceive pain so it really is fundamental to every system that we uh rely on during our waking lives having seen you know thousands and thousands and thousands of people that struggle with sleep that have been sent to your center do you think the the average person on the street

Well, I think it's changing. I think it was not that long ago where comments like sleep is for wimps was heard fairly frequently and that there were some bragging rights associated with how little you sleep. I think that there has been a transformation over the last 15 or 20 years whereby people have become much more aware of how important sleep is and have started prioritising it a little bit.

Well, I think it's changing. I think it was not that long ago where comments like sleep is for wimps was heard fairly frequently and that there were some bragging rights associated with how little you sleep. I think that there has been a transformation over the last 15 or 20 years whereby people have become much more aware of how important sleep is and have started prioritising it a little bit.