Caffeine-Induced Sleep Disorder

Caffeine can have undesirable effects on planned sleep and can be an important factor underlying sleep complaints and sleep disorders. The purported biological mechanism underlying caffeine’s effects on sleep is the antagonism of adenosine A2A receptors. Caffeine is structurally similar to adenosine, a neuromodulator that plays a central role in the sleep-wake cycle. Adenosine builds up in the brain during wakefulness and promotes sleep. Caffeine blocks adenosine receptors, thereby producing wakefulness and arousal. Such effects can be functional during times when wakefulness is desired (e.g., driving long distances, military operations).

Caffeine has been shown to delay the onset of sleep, increase nighttime awakenings, reduce total sleep time, alter sleep-related brain activity, and decrease self-reported sleep quality. Caffeine-induced disruptions in sleep are associated with impaired daytime functioning ...

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