Carol,
They are actually going deeper than just sleep.  They believe that 
there is a connection between breast cancer and melatonin 
production.  The brane produces melatonin in response to the light 
received from the eye.  Because melatonin production is out of wack, 
especially for those who have either lost their sight later in life 
or had their eyes removed,  blind people become an interesting sub 
group to study.  They are trying to work on two issues.  The first 
one is how to help blind people who have sleep issues get better 
sleep.  The second issue has to do with estrigen and melatonin 
production in geneeral.  One therey so far is that blind women have a 
lower rate of breast cancer because they have lower melatonin 
production.  The more people that can be found to participate in the 
study, the more accurate the results.
Kathy




At 08:30 PM 5/17/2006, you wrote:
>Kathy,
>
>We had a sleep study done over here in the UK about 20 years back. 
>Unfortunately I couldn't take part at that time.  There was a very 
>interesting report which certainly gave the "thumbs up" for the 
>theory that blind people, having no light to keep their body clock 
>in order, were cerceptible to bad sleep and Melatonin helped in many cases.
>
>How I wish my sleep problems were that simple!  Mike takes Melatonin 
>and is getting good results.
>
>I'd be interested to learn more about the study that's being carried 
>out there.
>
>
>--
>Carol
>[log in to unmask]
>
>
>
>
>----- Original Message ----- From: "Kathy Du Bois" <[log in to unmask]>
>To: <[log in to unmask]>
>Sent: Wednesday, May 17, 2006 5:55 PM
>Subject: Re: sleep study
>
>
>>Vergie,
>>That's perfect!!  As long as you are legally blind, that is, 20 
>>over 200 in your best eye, you're in.
>>Kathy
>>
>>At 11:13 AM 5/17/2006, you wrote:
>>>Hi Kathy,
>>>I am not sure they would even accept me because I have more than 
>>>light perception!  I can actually see objects and walk around 
>>>without running into furniture and door facings.
>>>Virgie and Hoshi
>>>----- Original Message ----- From: "Kathy Du Bois" <[log in to unmask]>
>>>To: <[log in to unmask]>
>>>Sent: Wednesday, May 17, 2006 10:23 AM
>>>Subject: sleep study
>>>
>>>
>>>>Since sleep problems do to lack of light perception has come up 
>>>>again on the list, I wish that those of you who do have problems 
>>>>would consider participating in the Harvard sleep study that I 
>>>>told you about around two months ago.  They need 30,000 legally 
>>>>blind women to participate in the basic interview and 240 to 
>>>>participate in the more in depth eight week study.  The interview 
>>>>is really easy, about 120 questions.  I've actualy been 
>>>>participating in the eight week study as well which involves some 
>>>>urine collection, wearing a light and activity monitor and 
>>>>filling out a sleep and nap diary on a daily basis for about 
>>>>eight weeks.  It's a little time consuming, but every morning, I 
>>>>think about you guys who talk about the problems that you have 
>>>>getting a good nights sleep and I think that I'm doing this to 
>>>>try to help you out.  I believe that your participation would be 
>>>>the most valuable though since you guys have sleep issues and I 
>>>>don't.  If you want the information again, I'd be glad to post 
>>>>it, or you can contact me off list, but I believe that you guys 
>>>>would really help to find answers to helping blind people get 
>>>>better sleep.  The study is just for women because they are 
>>>>looking at the connection between estrogen and melatonin 
>>>>production as well, and there is a breast concern element as 
>>>>well, but the more of you who participate, the sooner help may come.
>>>>Kathy
>