Task 1: Characterizing Research

Question: How does using sleeping pills affect the central nervous system of
people of different ages?

Most common medications that pass through the blood-brain barrier are
said to have a possible effect on the sleep quality and/or sleep architecture.
Changes can occur that might cause innocuous effects and for some cases the
changes were obscure. Benzodiazepines, nonbenzodiazepine receptor agonists,
orexin antagonists, antiseizure drugs, antidepressants, analgesics, and CNS
stimulants are the the common prescribed medications that act on the central
nervous system (CNS) and can alter sleep continuity, quality and cycle. Taking
sleeping pills has underlying risks depending on the specific drug, dose,and how
long it lasts on your system which can affect our physical body state. Sleep is the
way of our brain to rest and alternating the system may cause perturbations.
Study shows that occurrence of neurocognitive disorders happens due to little
disturbance in brain metabolism which gradually builds up protein over the years.
Both short term and long term use of sleeping pills may lead to serious problems
specifically in older adults but prioritizing sleep in your younger years may not
only help in short term brain functionality but more importantly in long term.
Current theories also determined that toxic substances in the neuro system
contribute to the possibility of having neurocognitive disorders and sleep plays a
vital role in minimizing and taking off those toxic substances. Henceforward,
taking sleeping pills can lead to neurocognitive disorder without the supervision
of a physician or medical practitioner. In this case, the effects of the sleeping pills
to children, teenagers, young adults and old adults will be examined. What are
the specific classes of sleeping pills that impacts the condition of the nervous
system specifically in the brain or the central nervous system and how long does
taking sleeping pills act on to the central nervous system before it can be
considered as unhealthy or damaging will be identified. The research question
mentioned above is relevant these days in light of the pandemic. Many
individuals became subjected to mental disorders which one of the effects are
affecting their sleep that may lead some of them to take sleeping pills without the
supervision of a physician. This topic seeks to raise awareness with proven
studies, literature and research of the risk of taking sleeping pills on our central
nervous system. It can provide a broad knowledge to the society about sleeping
pills, the pros and cons both in short term and long term specifically in our central
nervous system. With this, it will promote visiting a physician and to avoid self-
medication. As a stem student, the function of the body and how external factors
affect the health of human beings is part of my course. By obtaining the
objectives through the research question, I am able to help spread awareness
 and to have a better understanding of the pros and cons of taking sleeping pills in
different classes.

Roehrs T, Roth T (2020, September 18), The effects of medications on sleep

quality and sleep architecture. https://library.csp.edu/c.php?g=982644&p=7132912
How Over-the-Counter Sleep Aids Can Hurt Your Brain (2018)
https://healthtalk.unchealthcare.org/how-over-the-counter-sleep-aids-can-hurt-your-
brain/