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New Algorithm Determines Ideal Caffeine Dosage and Timing for Alertness

posted by mrpg on Saturday June 09 2018, @03:29PM   Printer-friendly
from the AI-drinking-coffee dept.

MrPlow writes:

Submitted via IRC for boru

Caffeine is the most widely consumed stimulant to counter the effects of sleep loss on neurobehavioral performance. However, to be safe and most effective, it must be consumed at the right time and in the right amount. This study proposed an automated optimization algorithm to identify safe and effective caffeine-dosing strategies that maximize alertness under any sleep-loss condition.

"We found that by using our algorithm, which determines when and how much caffeine a subject should consume, we can improve alertness by up to 64 percent, while consuming the same total amount of caffeine," said principal investigator and senior author Jaques Reifman, PhD. "Alternatively, a subject can reduce caffeine consumption by up to 65 percent and still achieve equivalent improvements in alertness."

[...] The algorithm was assessed by computing and comparing dosing strategies for four previously published experimental studies of sleep loss. For each study, two dosing strategies were computed -- one which enhanced the predicted PVT performance using the same total amount of caffeine as in the original studies, and another which achieved an equivalent level of performance as in the original studies using a lower amount of caffeine.

Source: New algorithm determines ideal caffeine dosage and timing for alertness

Original Submission

 
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  • (Score: 3, Informative) by soylentnewsfan1 on Saturday June 09 2018, @07:24PM (2 children)

    by soylentnewsfan1 (6684) on Saturday June 09 2018, @07:24PM (#690907)
    For those interested in reading the actual study it is available via:

    Caffeine dosing strategies to optimize alertness during sleep loss
    https://doi.org/10.1111/jsr.12711 [doi.org]

    It is an open access article under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs License sponsored by the Military Operational Medicine Program Area Directorate of the U.S. Army Medical Research.

    However, the UMP does not currently account for the effects of sleep debt on the benefits of caffeine. Consequently, our algorithm’s strategies may potentially overestimate neurobehavioural performance or underestimate the amount of caffeine needed for long CSR scenarios. Moreover, the UMP does not consider individual differences in sensitivity, or the development of tolerance of caffeine, which could result in paradoxical effects. For example, the optimization algorithm could predict too much caffeine for a caffeine-sensitive individual, which could lead to extended sleep onset, reduced recovery sleep and increased caffeine consumption. In contrast, individuals with low sensitivity to caffeine may require considerably more caffeine than the amount prescribed by the optimal dosing strategy for an average individual

    For those looking forward to using their results for themselves:

    As a next step, we plan to incorporate this algorithm into the open access 2B-Alert Web tool (Reifman et al., 2016), allowing for optimized caffeine prescription in the design of sleep studies and work schedules

    Reifman, J., Kumar, K., Wesensten, N. J., Tountas, N. A., Balkin, T. J., & Ramakrishnan, S. (2016). 2B-Alert web: An open-access tool for predicting the effects of sleep/wake schedules and caffeine consumption on neurobehavioral performance. Sleep, 39, 2157–2159. https://doi.org/10.5665/sleep.6318 [doi.org]

    Starting Score:    1  point
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       Informative=2, Total=2
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  • (Score: 2, Interesting) by soylentnewsfan1 on Saturday June 09 2018, @07:34PM (1 child)

    by soylentnewsfan1 (6684) on Saturday June 09 2018, @07:34PM (#690911)
    And a little about the tool that is referenced:
    https://2b-alert-web.bhsai.org/ [bhsai.org]

    This software tool predicts alertness of an "average" individual as a function of sleep/wake schedule and caffeine consumption. Specifically, this tool allows users to manually enter a sleep/wake schedule and caffeine dosing and timing, and displays the corresponding predictions for three different psychomotor vigilance task alertness statistics.

    This tool can be used to:

    1. Assess the effect of different sleep/wake schedules and caffeine consumption
    2. Design sleep/wake and caffeine schedules to optimize alertness
    3. Generate hypotheses that can be experimentally tested
    4. Coming soon: the ability to optimize caffeine use

    Disclaimer: The 2B-Alert Web tool is for educational and informational purposes only. It should not be used for or relied upon for predicting the performance of any specific individual or the likelihood of errors or accidents by any specific individual or a group of individuals.

    • (Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Friday June 15 2018, @09:21AM

      by Anonymous Coward on Friday June 15 2018, @09:21AM (#693399)

      Thanks. We truly appreciate the digging, soylentnewsfan1. Call me a soylentnewsfan1fan.