For centuries, mankind has chased the holy grail. They’ve pursued a life of health and longevity, free of disease and full of vitality. Today, after thousands of years of chasing after this fountain of youth, we’ve arrived at a time of technological advancement where humans have the means to design a better future for themselves and following generations.
Research from biologists across the nation reveals that humans are still evolving and we can watch it happen in as little as one generation. By analyzing giant genomic data sets, these scientists are able to track evolutionary shifts over extraordinarily short timeframes.
With advances in technology and science, we have more power to determine the direction of mankind’s future. So how will we choose to evolve next?
We all seek a healthy, stress-free life for ourselves and for those who will inherit our genetic makeup. The question is, how do we grasp this seemingly unclaimable holy grail of livelihood and youthful vigor?
For entrepreneur Nancy Nguyen, tackling the challenge of restorative sleep in a non-stop world is the means to mankind’s next evolution.
Sleep is unquestionably linked to lifespan
Recent studies from the University of Rochester show that sleep is critical to prolonging lifespan. Their study on the circadian and pluripotency networks illustrated that these systems are key to longevity. "To live longer, we have to maintain healthy sleep schedules,” reports gene researcher Vera Gorbunova in the Cell Metabolism research journal.
Findings from Harvard Medical School also point to the importance of quality sleep. Through their analysis of multiple sleep studies, Harvard researchers found that sleep consisting of five or fewer hours each night can increase mortality risk by as much as 15 percent. Additionally, reducing sleep by a mere two or three hours a night can lead to weight gain, reduced immunity and increased health risks.
Sleep is fundamentally critical to our wellbeing. However, getting it proves challenging in today’s world of constant stimulation. Many are turning to sleeping pills in order to turn off busy minds and reach a deep sleep. Unfortunately, these sleeping pills come with plenty of side effects and no long term resolution.
A Natural Solution Powered by Tech
When Nguyen’s husband wanted to get off medication and find a natural approach to sleep, the entrepreneur leaned into solutions tied to brain waves and circadian rhythm. Soon, her husband started sleeping without dependence on sleeping pills that he had taken for years, and Nguyen decided to turn her approach into a business.
With the vision of improving sleep, Nguyen founded The Original Sleep and created the FLY companion app to help users relax into a good night’s sleep. The app is based on reprogramming the brain’s focus and taking advantage of sunlight to rewire the brain for better rest at night.
Scientists are continuing to uncover the impact of brain waves on sleep. At Massachusetts General Hospital, researchers have found that the alpha waves that make us responsive to noise and stimulation throughout the day have a diminished, yet present effect at night. For those in a fragile sleep stage, hidden alpha waves meant it was more difficult to stay asleep.
By connecting data collected from technology and knowledge on sleep, The Original Sleep App allows users to access greater information on their health and longevity. Artificial intelligence in the app will learn users' sleep patterns and collect other health data for further improvements. Inside the app, users will find sleep optimizing techniques from a new long-breathing method to cellular-connection training and imagination-generated technology. The app is currently in the integration development stage with Fitbit which will allow Fitbit users to integrate their health data with the FLY app to analyze their sleep health and get suggestions on their devices.
How will you choose to evolve? While the power of sleep is undeniable, only you can take the first step toward the future.
