Season 7 | Episode 24
In this episode of Talking Sleep, host Dr. Seema Khosla welcomes Dr. Safwan Badr, the newly appointed editor of the Journal of Clinical Sleep Medicine and sleep medicine physician at Wayne State University, for an in-depth review of the most impactful articles published in JCSM during 2025.
Dr. Badr discusses his vision for the journal and the editorial selection process, then guides listeners through key research findings shaping clinical practice. The conversation highlights both highly popular papers and important studies that deserve more attention from practicing clinicians.
A significant focus is placed on research confirming that traditional 4% hypopnea criteria and CMS definitions systematically underestimate sleep apnea in women, with expanded diagnostic criteria helping mitigate these gender disparities. The episode explores groundbreaking research on sleep architecture and Alzheimer’s disease, examining how lower slow wave sleep and REM sleep correlate with brain atrophy in AD-vulnerable regions, particularly the inferior parietal lobe.
Consumer sleep technology receives critical examination through a meta-analysis comparing wrist-worn devices to polysomnography, revealing significant limitations in accuracy. Dr. Badr discusses implications for physicians and consumers who increasingly rely on these devices. Mental health intersects with sleep medicine through research showing that nightmares and insomnia in the acute aftermath of trauma predict suicidal ideation—nearly half of acute trauma patients with both conditions experience suicidal ideation within two months, highlighting urgent need for early interventions.
Additional topics include Canadian research on CBT-I effectiveness during pregnancy and findings from the TODAY study examining obstructive sleep apnea’s relationship with glycemic control and cardiovascular risk in young adults with youth-onset type 2 diabetes.
Whether you’re looking to stay current with evidence-based practice changes, interested in emerging research on sleep and neurodegeneration, or seeking to understand gender disparities in sleep medicine, this year-in-review provides essential updates.
Dr. Safwan Badr
M. Safwan Badr is a Professor and Chair, Department of Internal Medicine at Wayne State University School of Medicine, and a Staff Physician at the John D. Dingell VA Medical Center. Dr. Badr completed a residency in Internal Medicine at Cook County Hospital in Chicago, followed by clinical and research fellowships in Pulmonary, Critical Care and Sleep Medicine at the University of Wisconsin, Madison. In addition, he completed an MBA at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, Tennessee. Dr. Badr has served on multiple national and international medical societies. He has served on the Board of Directors of the American Thoracic Society (ATS) and the American Academy of Sleep Medicine (AASM). He was the President of the AASM from 2013-2014. Dr. Badr currently serves on the Board of Directors for the American Board of Internal Medicine (ABIM). Dr. Badr is a sleep researcher and research mentor. He has mentored many trainees and junior faculty who went on to develop successful clinical and academic careers.
