TL;DR

• Hormones such as growth hormone (GH), corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRH), and ovarian hormones significantly influence sleep patterns and quality.
• GH promotes slow-wave sleep (SWS), while CRH can disrupt sleep and enhance rapid-eye-movement sleep (REMS).
• Ovarian hormones, including estrogen and progesterone, play a crucial role in sleep regulation, particularly in women, affecting sleep quality during different life stages.
• Neuroactive steroids and peptides like galanin and neuropeptide Y also contribute to sleep modulation.
• Hormonal changes during menopause and puberty can exacerbate sleep disturbances, highlighting the importance of hormonal balance for sleep health.

What Hormones Affect Sleep?

How Do Growth Hormones Influence Sleep?

Growth hormone (GH) plays a pivotal role in sleep regulation, particularly in promoting slow-wave sleep (SWS). GH-releasing hormone (GHRH) stimulates the secretion of GH, which in turn enhances SWS and inhibits cortisol, a hormone that can disrupt sleep. However, the administration of systemic GH does not significantly alter sleep patterns, suggesting that its role in sleep regulation might be more complex and context-dependent. The interaction between GH and sleep is bidirectional, with sleep onset often triggering an increase in GH secretion.

What Role Do Ovarian Hormones Play in Sleep?

Ovarian hormones, including estrogen and progesterone, are crucial in modulating sleep, especially in women. These hormones influence sleep quality across different life stages, such as puberty, the menstrual cycle, pregnancy, and menopause. Estrogen has been associated with improved sleep quality, while progesterone and its metabolites generally promote sleep. During menopause, the decline in these hormones can lead to increased sleep disturbances, which hormone replacement therapy can sometimes alleviate.

How Do Corticotropin-Releasing Hormones Affect Sleep?

Corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRH) is known to have a disruptive effect on sleep. It can enhance rapid-eye-movement sleep (REMS) and is often associated with sleep disturbances during stress and depression. The balance between GHRH and CRH is crucial for maintaining healthy sleep patterns, with an imbalance often leading to sleep disorders.

What Is the Impact of Neuroactive Steroids and Peptides on Sleep?

Neuroactive steroids and peptides such as galanin, neuropeptide Y, and vasoactive intestinal polypeptide play significant roles in sleep regulation. These substances can promote sleep by interacting with specific receptors in the brain, such as the GABA(A) receptors. Galanin and neuropeptide Y are known to enhance sleep, while somatostatin can impair it, particularly in older adults.

How Do Hormonal Changes During Life Stages Affect Sleep?

Hormonal fluctuations during different life stages, such as puberty and menopause, can significantly impact sleep quality. During puberty, the increase in sex hormones can lead to more sleep complaints, particularly in girls. Menopause is another critical period where hormonal changes, particularly the decline in estrogen and progesterone, can exacerbate sleep disturbances. These changes highlight the importance of hormonal balance in maintaining healthy sleep patterns throughout life.

Table: Hormones and Their Effects on Sleep

Conclusion

Hormones play a crucial role in regulating sleep, with various hormones and peptides influencing different aspects of sleep architecture. Growth hormone and its releasing hormone promote slow-wave sleep, while corticotropin-releasing hormone can disrupt sleep patterns. Ovarian hormones, particularly estrogen and progesterone, are vital for sleep regulation in women, with their decline during menopause often leading to increased sleep disturbances. Neuroactive steroids and peptides further modulate sleep, highlighting the complex interplay between hormones and sleep. Understanding these interactions is essential for addressing sleep disorders and improving sleep quality across different life stages.