Biohacking Weekly 36: 45% Sleep Disruption Spike — Climate’s Silent Hit
July 18, 2025This is Biohacking Weekly - A curated news roundup designed to help you increase your longevity, improve healthspan and access OptimOZ product picks.
IN THIS EDITION
1. Climate change is stealing your sleep
2. What your waist could say about liver damage
3. Gut-brain link: probiotics may reduce anxiety
4. New study links ketones to stronger hearts
5. Air pollution tied to mental health drop
1. Hotter Nights Drive 45% Increase in Sleep Apnoea Cases
As global temperatures rise, so does the hidden threat in our bedrooms. A study published in Nature Communications by Flinders University tracked nearly 116,000 individuals using under-mattress sensors. It found that hotter nights increased the odds of obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA) events by 45%, with projections showing the disease burden could double worldwide by 2100 — driven by rising temperatures and varying access to cooling systems like air conditioning.
OSA is a condition where the airway repeatedly becomes blocked during sleep, causing breathing to stop and start throughout the night. This condition already affects nearly 1 billion people and is linked with serious health risks, such as heart disease, stroke, and cognitive decline.
Read the full article on The New Daily
2. Waist-to-Height Ratio Outperforms BMI in Predicting Liver Disease
In a major analysis of 6,464 individuals aged 12 to 80 from the 2021–23 NHANES cohort, researchers from the University of Eastern Finland found that measuring the waist‐to‐height ratio (WHtR) is more effective than body mass index (BMI) in predicting liver health issues.
Participants with a WHtR ≥ 0.53 had nearly four times the odds of developing fatty liver and a 61% increased risk of fibrosis or cirrhosis compared to those with a ratio below 0.50. The results remained strong even after adjusting for other health factors like blood pressure, cholesterol, insulin levels, and lifestyle habits.
Finding out your waist-to-height ratio (WHtR) is easy using a free online calculator.
Read the full article on News-Medical
3. Probiotics Show Real Promise in Easing Depression and Anxiety
A new meta-analysis of 19 clinical studies suggests that gut-friendly supplements like probiotics, prebiotics, and synbiotics may significantly reduce symptoms of depression and anxiety.
Analyzing data from 1,405 individuals with mild-to-moderate depression or major depressive disorder, researchers found that those taking these supplements experienced a notably greater drop in depression scores compared to control groups. Anxiety symptoms also improved in a subset of seven studies involving 481 participants.
While the benefits varied depending on factors such as nationality, age, BMI, disease severity, and even the number of probiotic strains used, the findings highlight a growing interest in the gut-brain axis — the communication link between digestive health and mental well-being.
Read the full research on ScienceDirect
4. Ketone Drinks Show Promise for Heart Health in Type 2 Diabetes
A new study from the University of Portsmouth has found that drinking ketone esters — supplements that mimic the effects of a ketogenic state — can significantly improve heart efficiency in people with type 2 diabetes. In this small but groundbreaking trial, 13 participants were given a ketone drink and a placebo a week apart. Researchers then monitored their heart performance using non-invasive tools.
The results? Every single participant showed better cardiac function both at rest and during moderate exercise after consuming the ketone drink compared to the placebo. Scientists suspect the heart-protective effect coming from triggering ketosis — a state where the body burns fat instead of glucose for fuel.
Read the full article on ScienceDaily
5. Moving to Polluted Areas Raises Mental Health Risks
A major UK study has found that relocating to areas with worse air pollution can harm not only physical but also mental health. The research, based on data from 14,800 people in Bradford who moved homes in early 2021, discovered that those who moved to neighborhoods with more particle pollution were 11% more likely to be prescribed medication for depression or anxiety within a year.
Even more concerning, individuals already facing mental health challenges were more likely to move into areas with poorer air quality, potentially worsening their condition.