Intro: I’m Tanisha Nicole here with Dr. Marishka Brown from the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute at NIH to Ask a Scientist about sleep and health. 
 
TN: When we’re talking about sleep, who really needs to pay attention? 
 
MB: Everyone. Sleep is vital across the lifespan. It’s critical for brain development in infants and children and required for proper cognitive functioning and heart health in older adults. 
 
TN: Do some people sleep better than others? 

MB: Research indicates that minoritized people and low socioeconomic status persons are disproportionally burdened by insufficient sleep, poor quality sleep and irregular sleep schedules. More Black Americans routinely report getting less than six hours of sleep, which is well short of the recommended seven to nine hours for adults. Women report poorer sleep than men in general. However, Black women report the worst sleep of all. So, understanding how sleep disturbances impact their health across the lifespan is vital. 
 
Outro: To learn more about sleep health, visit nhlbi.nih.gov.