Split sleep could shield night-shift workers from health risks

Night-shift work disrupts the body’s circadian rhythm, harming sleep quality and potentially increasing risks of dementia, heart disease and mental illness as sleep disruption affects brain waste clearance and raises stress hormones. Researchers are exploring biphasic sleep (two daily sleep blocks) and planned naps as possible ways to mitigate harm, aiming to develop clear guidelines for shift workers, though more evidence is needed.