Heavy caffeine users and deeper sleep; wonders of microscopic life; preparing for life after an Alzheimer’s diagnosis; plus other stories with Vanderbilt Health sources

September 18, 2026 - 22:29

A surprising new study suggests that people who consume large amounts of caffeine may actually experience deeper non-rapid-eye-movement sleep, even though they tend to sleep fewer hours overall. Beth Malow, MD, Professor of Neurology and Pediatrics in the Vanderbilt Sleep Division, shared her perspective on the findings from the Journal of Psychopharmacology in an interview with Women's Health. The results challenge common assumptions about how caffeine affects rest, though experts caution that sleep duration still matters for overall health.

In other news, Dylan Burnette, PhD, Associate Professor of Cell and Developmental Biology, spoke with The New York Times for a feature exploring the microscopic life that surrounds us every day. The story included videos that bring these tiny organisms into view.

William Schaffner, MD, Professor of Preventive Medicine, offered his expertise to multiple outlets on a range of public health topics. He discussed rabies vaccinations with Prevention, provided an update on the Cyclospora outbreak to Healthline, commented on a measles outbreak that has sickened hundreds for Prevention, and addressed vaccine safety in a video interview and transcript for AARP.

Science published a piece about a new NIH research center focused on vaccine harms, quoting Kathryn Edwards, MD, Professor of Pediatrics, Emerita.

Lealani Mae Acosta, MD, MPH, Associate Professor of Neurology, was featured in an Everyday Health article about how individuals can enrich their lives and plan for the future after receiving an Alzheimer's disease diagnosis. Amalia Peterson, MD, Assistant Professor of Neurology, also spoke with Everyday Health for a report on common medications that have been linked to a lower risk of dementia.