Sleep in Context

Sleep has undergone a remarkable shift in scientific and public perception, moving from a relatively overlooked biological process to a widely recognized component of health. This growing recognition reflects substantial advances in sleep science, but it has also created a translational challenge: while contemporary research increasingly recognizes sleep as a multidimensional and context-dependent construct, these nuances can be attenuated as findings are communicated to clinicians, policymakers, commercial stakeholders, and the public. This Perspective examines how sleep can be promoted as an important component of health without overstating its effects or presenting it as a universal solution to complex health problems. It argues for communication approaches that preserve evidentiary nuance, acknowledge relevant uncertainty, and situate sleep within the broader behavioral, biological, social, and environmental contexts that shape its relationship with health. Such communication can help ensure that the growing prominence of sleep evolves into a mature and appropriately contextualized component of health, rather than simply becoming the latest target of health optimization and overstatement.