A drug that will eliminate sleeping?

Can it be a dream come true if it involves not sleeping? Perhaps you’re struggling to catch up on whatever writing quotas/deadlines you’ve set for yourself. Or maybe you just want to stay up late playing games to distract yourself from your latest writing project. Either way, this haphazard sleeping cycle often leaves one groggy and churning mud in the brain the next day, especially if you have to get up early for work.

But is our good friend, Science, coming closer to finding a cure for sleep deprivation?

While only tested on monkeys so far, a new nasal spray appears to reverse the effects of sleep deprivation, restoring them to a well-rested state.

Instead of providing a stimulant, like coffee or other perk-me-ups, this spray includes a hormone called orexin A. Scientists discovered that a key trigger of narcolepsy was a severe deficit of this hormone, and so some reasoned that if chronic sleepiness was caused by this hormone’s absence, perhaps sleepiness could be eradicated by introducing it back into the system. So far, it seems to be working.

Of course, restoring a sense of awareness and mental focus is only one problem of sleep deprivation. This spray doesn’t address other issues, such as the body’s need for physical recuperation during sleep and other metabolic factors. So while sleep may not be entirely eliminated, orexin A is a big step towards helping students cramming on all-nighters and writers trying to meet deadlines. Though, are we going to see this as an over-the-counter med anytime soon? Not likely, but here’s for hoping.

I see that smile.