A simple saliva test may one day help determine when a person is too sleep-deprived to drive safely or operate in high-risk settings, according to new research identifying molecular changes linked to prolonged wakefulness.
Sleep loss is known to impair alertness, slow reaction times, and disrupt coordination in ways comparable to severe alcohol intoxication. Yet unlike alcohol, there is currently no reliable clinical or roadside test to measure dangerous levels of fatigue.
Researchers publishing in the Journal of Proteome Research report early progress towards a non-invasive diagnostic approach based on chemical changes in saliva. In a study involving 20 healthy young men, scientists identified distinct metabolic differences after a full night without sleep compared with a normal night’s rest.
Drowsy driving is estimated to contribute to tens of thousands of crashes each year in the United States, prompting some states to introduce
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