Ruth M. Benca is an American psychiatrist[1] and researcher in the fields of sleep medicine and neuropsychiatry. She is professor and chair of the department of psychiatry and human behavior at Wake Forest School of Medicine.[2]
Early life and education
editBenca received her undergraduate degree from Harvard University. Following this, she obtained both her medical degree (M.D.) and a doctorate in pathology (Ph.D.) from the University of Chicago.[3]
Career
editBenca has been a professor at the University of California, Irvine, where she served as the chair of the department of psychiatry and human behavior. Later, she moved to the Wake Forest School of Medicine, where she holds the same positions.[4][5]
Benca's research focused on the interplay between sleep and psychiatric disorders across an individual's lifespan, including role of sleep and sleep disorders on Alzheimer's disease and their potential contribution to its onset and progression.[6]
She also contributed to the understanding of chronic insomnia,[7] its diagnosis, treatment, and consequences, and discovered the bi-directional relationship between peripheral glucose metabolism and sleep disorders, and she has also made contributions to understanding sleep's relationship with mood disorders, and sleep in birds.[8]
Research
editBenca studied the association of poor sleep with biomarkers of amyloid pathology in older adults, finding a potential relationship between disturbed sleep and an increased risk of Alzheimer's disease. She also participated in research assessing the link between brain inflammation, Alzheimer's risk, and sleep disturbance.[2]
References
edit- ^ "How to avoid losing your mind to Alzheimer's or dementia. Hint: Start now, says Maria Shriver". Los Angeles Times. 2018-03-31. Archived from the original on 2018-03-31. Retrieved 2023-07-09.
- ^ a b "Lingering Challenges With Assessing, Treating Sleep Problems in Alzheimer Disease: Ruth Benca, MD, PhD". Neurology live. 2022-06-09. Retrieved 2023-07-09.
- ^ DownUnder 2023, Sleep (2023-03-20). "Dr Ruth M. Benca, MD, PhD". www.sleepdownunder.com. Retrieved 2023-07-09.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link) - ^ "UC Irvine - Faculty Profile System". www.faculty.uci.edu. Retrieved 2023-07-11.
- ^ "Ruth Benca, MD". Wake Forest University School of Medicine. Retrieved 2023-07-11.
- ^ "Research reveals how brain inflammation may link Alzheimer's risk, sleep disturbance". www.bizjournals.com. Retrieved 2023-07-09.
- ^ "Untreated insomnia risks other health woes".
- ^ "In Study of Human Patterns, Scientists Look to Bird Brains - New York Times". 2015-06-05. Archived from the original on 2015-06-05. Retrieved 2023-07-09.