"Sleep and wakefulness, both of them, when immoderate constitute disease"

(Hippocrates)

Hi everyone!

I'm very happy to write my first editorial as a new member of the ESF Young Section board—it's a real honor to be part of this amazing community. Getting involved with such a motivated and curious group of young sleep scientists is truly exciting, and I’m looking forward to what we can achieve together!

I recently had the chance to attend the 9th ESMS – European Sleep Medicine School in Nicosia, Cyprus, and what an experience it was! The program was packed with high-quality sessions and the atmosphere was both welcoming and inspiring.

One of the sessions that really stuck with me was the one on “Insomnia: Mechanisms and Treatment”—a great mix of up-to-date research and practical insight. I also really enjoyed the “Chronobiology” session, which sparked some thought-provoking conversations about our internal clocks. Another highlight was the case-based session on Central Disorders of Hypersomnolence, which was interactive and very engaging—definitely the kind of learning that stays with you.

And of course, we can't forget the social events, which were absolutely fantastic! From warm evenings out in Nicosia’s old town to informal chats over Cypriot food and drinks, it was the perfect chance to connect with fellow participants and faculty. Nicosia’s mix of history and energy made it a truly memorable backdrop for the event.

Below you will find the reports from the Nicosia event prepared by further participants.

Looking forward to many more such events and collaborations ahead.

Let’s keep the momentum going!

Best regards,

Livia Fregolente and the editorial team

Global Collaboration and Innovation:

Highlights from the 9th ESF Sleep Medicine School

Dr. Daniel Bancovsky

Fellow in Child Neurology and Development.
Student of Master of Advanced Studies (MAS) in Sleep Medicine at the University of Bern

The 9th ESF Sleep Medicine School, held from March 31 to April 3, 2025, at the University of Cyprus in Nicosia, was a success, allowing professionals worldwide to advance their knowledge in sleep medicine. This year’s “Sleep & Health” sections underscored the growing trend of viewing health as a holistic concept that includes sleep as an essential part of it. Lectures about sleep medicine from the viewpoint of circadian and lifestyle medicine, sports medicine, brain health, and the top-notch techniques that use AI to explore sleep science provided a unique opportunity for multidisciplinary learning.

With a robust schedule comprising both introductory and advanced lectures, real-world case reports, and practical workshops, participants gained an in-depth understanding of sleep disorders and their broader implications on populational health and economics.

First day’s lectures on circadian rhythm and sleep macro/micro structure, from prof. Spitschan and prof. Manconi, offered a didactic approach that was compatible for both the beginner and the expert on the field. The interesting story of how Michel Siffre spent 62 days in a cave without time cues, eventually describing the patterns of human’s “internal clock”, illustrated the throughout explanation of how light acts on melanopsin-containing retinal cells eventually resetting the suprachiasmatic nucleus “master clock”.  Even more fascinating, was learning how to objectively measure and score sleep according to AASM’s manual, through polysomnography. Surprisingly, sleep rhythm was classified in EEG was not long ago, in 1937, through the work of Alfred Loomis. It took another fifteen years to Aserinsky and Kleitman to describe REM sleep. Nowadays one can effectively analyse both NREM and REM stages and even use artificial intelligence to assist in this task. The program then continued with excellent lectures on Insomnia, Restless Leg Syndrome, Excessive Daytime Sleepiness, Central disorders of hypersomnolence, Parasomnias and Sleep-related breathing disorders.

Nevertheless, the importance of this Sleep School extended well beyond the lectures, into dedicated networking and social events. A guided tour of Nicosia provided a glimpse into Cyprus’ rich and beautiful history, while an Art & Sleep Social Aperitif encouraged informal exchanges between attendees and speakers, exploring how sleep has been attracting the curiosity and admiration of the humankind for hundreds of years.

In summary, beyond the excellent content and known speakers, the school championed global collaboration, bringing together experts, health providers, and researchers from the most diverse backgrounds. Professionals connected over shared challenges, exchanging innovative solutions, and establishing international partnerships and joint research initiatives that will certainly shape the future of sleep medicine.

Awakened Perspectives

Reflections from the 9th ESF Sleep Medicine School in Nicosia

Dr. Diana Mejzinolli

Neurology Resident at the University Clinical Center of Kosovo. Student of Master of Advanced Studies (MAS) in Sleep Medicine at the University of Bern

Earlier this year, I had the privilege of attending the 9th European Sleep Foundation (ESF) Sleep Medicine School, held from March 31 to April 3, 2025, at the University of Cyprus in Nicosia. The course gathered clinicians and researchers from across Europe and beyond, creating an inspiring space to explore the intricate relationship between sleep, health, and disease through a carefully curated academic program.

The overarching theme of this year’s School, Sleep & Health, resonated deeply with my own clinical and research path. As a neurology resident currently enrolled in the Master of Advanced Studies in Sleep Medicine at the University of Bern (Class of 2027), and as a Brain Health Ambassador for the European Academy of Neurology, I found the program both intellectually rich and strategically aligned with the growing recognition of sleep as a foundational component of brain and systemic health.
A particular highlight for me was Prof. Claudio Bassetti’s lecture on Sleep and Brain Health, which eloquently articulated how sleep disorders contribute to cognitive decline, and how sleep promotion can be a pillar of brain health strategies—an approach I am committed to advancing through both clinical work and national advocacy.

Beyond the structured sessions, what made the experience particularly rewarding was the exchange with colleagues from across Europe. Conversations during breaks and informal gatherings often sparked new perspectives and ideas, highlighting the shared goals and challenges among early-career professionals in this evolving field.
Sleep medicine remains a relatively young and underrepresented specialty in many healthcare systems. In the region where I practice, the field is still in its formative stages. Attending the ESF Sleep Medicine School not only enriched my understanding but also reaffirmed my motivation to help shape its future. As one of the few professionals in my country undergoing formal training in sleep medicine, I hope to contribute to the establishment of dedicated services and structured education in the near future.

I am deeply grateful to the European Sleep Foundation, the course faculty, and local organizers for this outstanding opportunity. The scientific quality, collegial atmosphere, and shared commitment to advancing sleep health made this experience both memorable and motivating. I look forward to staying engaged with the ESF community and contributing to the growth of sleep medicine, locally and internationally.

Dr. Diana Mejzinolli is a Neurology Resident at the University Clinical Center of Kosovo and a candidate in the Master of Advanced Studies (MAS) in Sleep Medicine at the University of Bern, Class of 2027. She serves as the National Representative for Kosovo in the Resident and Research Fellow Section (RRFS) of the European Academy of Neurology (EAN) and is a Brain Health Ambassador within the same organization. She is also a member of the Young Section of the European Sleep Foundation. Her clinical, research and advocacy interests focus on sleep disorders, neuroimmunology, and the integration of brain health and sleep medicine into clinical practice and policy.

Paper of the month

Multidimensional Sleep Health

Dr. Lyudmila Korostovtseva

Sleep Group, Department for Hypertension, Almazov National Medical Research Centre

Sleep is a fundamental biological function, and an essential component of general well-being. In line with this statement, a keynote talk by Prof. C.L. Bassetti at the 9th ESF Sleep Medicine School in Cyprus highlighted the impact of sleep on brain health and brain longevity and focused on different aspects of sleep that can mediate this association. Sleep health as a multidimensional concept was originally proposed by Prof. D.J. Buysse in 2014  (defined by the abbreviation SATED: Satisfaction, Alertness, Timing, Efficiency, Duration). According to this concept, sleep health is far beyond the absence of sleep disorders, but considers adaptation to individual, social, and environmental demands, that promotes physical and mental well-being. Later, this concept was further developed, and new measurements of sleep health were outlined as reported by A. Vorster and colleagues in 2024  (8 dimensions of sleep health: regularity, satisfaction, alertness/sleepiness, timing, efficiency, duration, breathing, and disordered sleep). Recently, on 14 April 2025, American Heart Association has published a Scientific Statement  focusing on the implications of multidimensional sleep health for cardiometabolic health. In this paper, American experts explain how the dimensions of sleep health (sleep duration, satisfaction/sleep quality, alertness/sleepiness, sleep efficiency, sleep timing, absence of sleep disorders, sleep architecture) are related to cardiometabolic health and patterned by sociodemographic status and encourage all health professionals to pay attention and evaluate multiple facets of sleep health when evaluating cardiometabolic health

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