---
slug: cognitive-stack-intro
title: "Cognitive Decline, Sleep, and Anxiety: The Interconnected Cycle"
kind: source_ledger
status: published
hash: 46932664f296e8379508e1931cd617e02edfc08146a0a7f7e7c7efcb536c676b
created: 2026-06-29T13:05:51.394Z
updated: 2026-10-08T11:51:17.239Z
summary: "Observational human data indicate bidirectional relationships among poor sleep, elevated anxiety, and cognitive decline. Insomnia is associated with substantially higher rates of anxiety and depression. Sleep deprivation in short-term"
tags: []
above: []
below: []
adjacent: []
nested: []
---
# Cognitive Decline, Sleep, and Anxiety: The Interconnected Cycle

*Observational human data indicate bidirectional relationships among poor sleep, elevated anxiety, and cognitive decline. Insomnia is associated with substantially higher rates of anxiety and depression. Sleep deprivation in short-term*

## The Interconnected Cycle

Observational human data indicate bidirectional relationships among poor sleep, elevated anxiety, and cognitive decline. Insomnia is associated with substantially higher rates of anxiety and depression. Sleep deprivation in short-term studies reduces emotional control. Psychiatric conditions including anxiety can disrupt sleep, creating compounding effects. Late-life anxiety is linked to accelerated cognitive decline and higher dementia risk. Declining slow-wave activity during deep sleep correlates with next-day anxiety increases in older adults, independent of chronological age in one cohort study. Insomnia symptoms in midlife, particularly difficulty initiating sleep, associate with poorer performance across cognitive domains years later, equivalent to 2–3 years of additional aging.

## Mapping Peptide Mechanisms to Cycle Components

Semax has been studied for effects on BDNF expression. Rat studies show rapid induction of Bdnf mRNA and modulation of BDNF/trkB signaling in hippocampus. One human study in post-stroke patients reported increased plasma BDNF levels with Semax administration alongside rehabilitation. DSIP administration in small human trials of chronic insomnia was associated with higher sleep efficiency and shorter sleep latency in one double-blind study; other small open trials reported normalized sleep patterns. Selank has been examined in human clinical studies of generalized anxiety disorder, with effects comparable to low-dose benzodiazepines on anxiety measures but without reported sedation, amnesia, withdrawal, or dependence in the studied cohorts.

Repair-oriented mechanisms are distinguished from suppression in available descriptions: Selank studies emphasize non-benzodiazepine pathways; DSIP is characterized as promoting sleep pressure rather than sedation in reviewed literature.

---

Related:
[Semax](/a/semax) · [DSIP](/a/dsip) · [Selank](/a/selank)

![[semax]]

![[dsip]]

![[selank]]

## Facts

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  "original_updated": "2026-06-29T21:20:04.801Z",
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## Sources

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20. [This ACTUALLY fixed my very severe brain fog](https://www.reddit.com/r/selfimprovement/comments/1qshwlc/this_actually_fixed_my_very_severe_brain_fog/) — “I’m 25F and had severe brain fog from age 15 to 25 that progressively worsened. I tried everything: ... strict sleep schedules (7.5 hours nightly for years)... Nothing helped. ... Three months ago... suggested daily brisk walking. ... my brain fog has completely disappeared and I mean completely. ... think clearly, remember conversations, and have laser-sharp focus” (sha256 ab475ffb815c5606)
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29. [NCT06606938 | FMT for Insomnia Disorder (FMT-SLEEP)](https://clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT06606938) — “Moreover, a human study found that fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) from healthy donors improved sleep and also ameliorated depression and anxiety in ...” (sha256 eae27da4e35e19d3)
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33. [What supplement/Peptide can I give my 80 year old mother ...](https://www.reddit.com/r/Biohackers/comments/1l2y490/what_supplementpeptide_can_i_give_my_80_year_old/) — “What supplement/Peptide can I give my 80 year old mother to help address cognitive decline?” (sha256 083d6df00bc851f8)
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41. [X post on stress and symptoms](https://x.com/myertival/status/2069151598580813877) — “I'm constantly under extreme stress, and I'm terrified about the impact it's having on my health. The stress is so overwhelming that I struggle to focus on anything. I experience constant brain fog, and many nights I can't sleep at all because of the anxiety and emotional strain.” (sha256 2e1ca9a03af01b2d)
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58. [Anyone else get brain fog and memory gaps](https://www.reddit.com/r/Anxietyhelp/comments/1q0g3kl/anyone_else_get_brain_fog_and_memory_gaps/) — “I deal with insomnia most nights and during the day my brain feels foggy. It's very common with anxiety and depression. brain fog , or other ...” (sha256 f5bcf2268013b5e0)
59. [Has anyone dealt with debilitating brain fog and found the cause?](https://www.reddit.com/r/productivity/comments/z6zxfv/has_anyone_dealt_with_debilitating_brain_fog_and/) — “When I was 27 years old I had an insane brain fog, memory problems (short and long term), lack of concentration, extreme social anxiety, extreme fatigue (especially after lunch), depression, insomnia (a bad night’s sleep, I seemed to wake up more tired than I would sleep) and so on... What bothered me most was the absurd brain fog... So I decided to cut the alcohol completely, after 6 months I had a small improvement in symptoms, after 1 year I was at 75%, after 2 years I was” (sha256 8591845b85e9cc8f)
60. [Brain fog and lack of emotions is from bad sleep or anxiety?](https://www.reddit.com/r/insomnia/comments/v0iy90/brain_fog_and_lack_of_emotions_is_from_bad_sleep/) — “Anxiety disorders are commonly associated with poor sleep . persistent poor sleep can cause anxiety or depression, or both.” (sha256 66f393875921a18b)
61. [A combined effect of fish-originated collagen peptides and caffeine on the cognitive function of sleep-deprived mice](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38170494/) — “This study aims to investigate two facets: (1) the combined effect of caffeine and FCP (namely C&F) on the cognitive function of sleep-deprived mice by different administration strategies with dose dependence (low and high dose) or time dependence (intervention in a day and prevention for a week); (2) the potential "microbiota-gut-brain" mechanism by which C&F improves sleep deprivation (SD)-induced cognitive impairments.” (sha256 e50af8fd5f77ceef)
62. [CMI-168 on Cognitive Function in Healthy Elderly Subjects](https://clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT03612752) — “The investigators propose to conduct the present study in order to primarily assess the effects of CMI-168 in neurocognition enhancement.” (sha256 64fb8d0c8f7be64f)
63. [Peptides: Semax for ADHD and Focus](https://conscioushealthcenter.com/semax-peptide-focus-and-adhd/) — “A PubMed-indexed review describes Semax as having nootropic and neuroprotective activity and notes research involving attention, dopamine activity, and BDNF synthesis.” (sha256 624c364fba63aa28)
64. [Why SEMAX Is the Peptide Everyone's Talking About for Focus, Anxiety & Brain Health](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RcLPGVY6lc0) — “Learn how SEMAX works in the brain, why it’s gaining attention in peptide therapy, and how it may help support mental clarity, anxiety, and mood regulation.” (sha256 35dad20cafd2ce57)
65. [DSIP Peptide: Research, Benefits, Dosage & Sleep Studies](https://drlewis.com/dsip-delta-sleep-inducing-peptide/) — “DSIP (Delta Sleep-Inducing Peptide ) is a neuropeptide studied for sleep, stress, and brain health.” (sha256 ca922dd762080ebf)
66. [Selank for Anxiety: Evidence, Mechanism, Realistic Expectations](https://drlewis.com/selank-for-anxiety/) — “Of all the peptides popular in the biohacking community for mental health , Selank has perhaps the most credible evidence base.” (sha256 e051bc68a77b6e87)
67. [An analysis on the role of glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists in cognitive and mental health disorders](https://www.nature.com/articles/s44220-025-00390-x) — “In this Analysis, we searched for relevant literature on the effects of GLP-1RAs across a range of illnesses, gathering and describing the available pre-clinical and mechanistic (278 studies) and clinical (96 studies) evidence for cognitive disorders, substance-use disorders, psychotic disorders, mood and anxiety disorders, eating disorders, and others.” (sha256 f9b95f3a1f4da0f7)
68. [Brain Health Across the Life Span: A Framework for Future Research and Implementation](https://www.ahajournals.org/doi/10.1161/STR.0000000000000518) — “Inadequate sleep or poor sleep quality is associated with cognitive decline and dementia, in part through impaired removal of toxic β-amyloid and other substances from the brain.” (sha256 ae696386ed380fe7)
69. [Best Peptides for Brain Health: 3 Ranked (2026)](https://thepeptidecatalog.com/goals/best-peptides-brain-health) — “Ranking of the peptides community sources describe for focus, memory, and sleep — what each does and what users actually report.” (sha256 73ae869c0bd0d1b5)
70. [Benefits & Risks of Peptide Therapeutics for Physical & Mental Health](https://www.hubermanlab.com/episode/benefits-risks-of-peptide-therapeutics-for-physical-mental-health) — “And these different peptides that are of different amino acid sequences are designed to reduce visceral adiposity a bit more or promote deep sleep a bit more or to promote muscle growth a bit more.” (sha256 146d0227e5ffdd30)
71. [Prevention of Cognitive Decline in ApoE4 Carriers With Subjective Cognitive Decline](https://clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT03978052) — “Randomized, double-blind, personalized clinical trial with 150 subjects with subjective cognitive decline (SCD) of both genders, with 3 arms of ...” (sha256 fe15083c184a73e5)
72. [Peptides and Your Brain: What the Latest Science Is Saying](https://drpatfarrell.medium.com/peptides-and-your-brain-what-the-latest-science-is-saying-11cd21b7c6dc) — “A major analysis in 2025 reviewed hundreds of studies, including 278 pre-clinical and 96 clinical trials. It found that GLP-1 receptor drugs ...” (sha256 a4627ffbb2145f03)
73. [Peptides and Brain Fog: Clinical Use and Benefits](https://mindbodyneurology.com/peptides-and-brain-fog-integrative-neurology/) — “Peptides and brain fog often come up together when you want better focus, calmer stress response, and improved sleep without guessing.” (sha256 a99d5edd5e1fd644)
74. [Can't Focus? Stop Brain Fog Now: Best Peptide & Medical Fix](https://ubiehealth.com/doctors-note/best-peptide-brain-fog-68-medically-approved-steps43q2) — “Emerging research suggests the peptide Cerebrolysin may help improve focus, memory, and mental processing speed by supporting neuronal repair ...” (sha256 cf4e71bd4c1a29bf)
75. [Peptide Therapies for Sleep Strategies & Circadian Health](https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/peptide-therapies-sleep-strategies-circadian-health-dr-alexander-cv8fc) — “In this educational post, I present a comprehensive, first-person narrative on how I utilize modern, evidence-based peptide therapies and neuroendocrine strategies to address sleep disturbances, circadian rhythm misalignment, mood dysregulation, cognitive decline...” (sha256 70cc11e8343faa6c)
76. [Can't sleep? Insomnia associated with accelerated brain aging](https://www.reddit.com/r/psychology/comments/1ndru09/cant_sleep_insomnia_associated_with_accelerated/) — “The study found that people with chronic insomnia —trouble sleeping at least three days a week for three months or more—had a 40% higher risk of ...” (sha256 f8d1dbe2508d48df)
77. [Can sleep apnea explain brain fog, spaced out feeling, memory loss?](https://www.reddit.com/r/SleepApnea/comments/r4ry2k/can_sleep_apnea_explain_brain_fog_spaced_out/) — “All of the symptoms you listed, brain fog , spaced out feeling, memory loss, fatigue and procrastination all can be caused by sleep apnea or ...” (sha256 6c045e66d802a734)
78. [Brain Fog and forgetfulness](https://www.reddit.com/r/Anxiety/comments/1r8kfvh/brain_fog_and_forgetfulness/) — “Absolutely more so when sleep deprived and anxiety flairs. Foggy, cloudy and memory matters and it does not help as also those are ...” (sha256 ddb47417367b969c)
79. [Please help! Constant brain fog, extreme anxiety, never ...](https://www.reddit.com/r/sleep/comments/1fii15m/please_help_constant_brain_fog_extreme_anxiety/) — “Brain fog, anxiety and fatigue are the main symptoms , but there are more symptoms. The only way these symptoms can become reduced is if I sleep for 10-12 hours.” (sha256 1efd5e6feb4f5526)
80. [Creatine did nothing for brain fog until I drastically increased the dosage.](https://www.reddit.com/r/Perimenopause/comments/1r0jbli/creatine_did_nothing_for_brain_fog_until_i/) — “Holy shit! What a difference! For the first time in 4 years I feel like I am back, that I'm running at about 90% of the person I was before peri, and at least 300% better than my brain-foggy self.” (sha256 284d5e885a9dad74)
81. [Peptides for incredible sleep benefit](https://x.com/whey777/status/2069942502879068396) — “My second peptides story features incredible sleep benefit. Thread 🧵 below, but TLDR is that my sleep had been awful for 2 decades (3 hours per night, often no REM sleep at all) and now with certain peptides I sleep great most nights. Night and day difference.” (sha256 ea94c63b8c1e5226)
82. [DSIP peptide fixed sleep like a rock](https://x.com/zapmethod/status/2033990620008628244) — “HOW I WENT FROM RUSSIAN SLEEP EXPERIMENT TO SLEEP LIKE ROCK: ... >100mcg subq before bed ... wake up 9 hours later ... wtf actually dreamed. Vivid as hell not groggy. actually refreshed ... cortisol feels lower. less on edge ... one peptide fixed it” (sha256 2a12548297cd48f2)
83. [BPC-157 and Pinealon for brain fog and mood](https://x.com/BasedBiohacker/status/2037671977029079461) — “BPC-157 is the peptide that surprised me the most. ... brain fog went to zero (i have pinealon to thank for this too), mornings much less groggy cognitively, and my mood stabilized a lot, in a positive, non-neutered kind of way.” (sha256 7e6828e16be5f3bd)
84. [Semax and Selank Together: Side Effects & SSRI Safety](https://thebh.us/blog/semax-selank-anxiety-depression-ptsd-cognition/) — “Semax and Selank for anxiety and mood: what the research shows, common side effects, and whether they're safe alongside antidepressants.” (sha256 f3359f0a9fe5e40c)
85. [Brain, Sleep & Mood Peptide Therapy | Semax, Selank, ...](https://navacenter.com/brain-sleep-and-mood-peptides/) — “Semax and Selank produce calm focus — not sedation. DSIP supports deeper sleep without residual grogginess.” (sha256 fe724f733cc6cbcc)
86. [Selank and Semax Peptides in Southlake, TX](https://medreinhealth.com/blog/selank-and-semax-peptides-in-southlake-tx/) — “While Semax is primarily a cognitive enhancer, Selank offers a unique combination of anxiety reduction, mood stabilization, and cognitive improvement.” (sha256 c514719a0afadcf9)
87. [Semax vs Selank: Benefits, Mechanisms & Safety Compared](https://www.helimeds.com/blog/semax-vs-selank) — “While Selank primarily modulates anxiety pathways, Semax focuses on cognitive enhancement and neuronal recovery.” (sha256 ef2d124ba1cdd84f)
88. [DSIP, Selank, Semax Peptide Benefits: A Powerful Trio](https://preferredregen.com/blog/dsip-selank-semax-peptide-benefits-a-powerful-trio) — “The combination of DSIP, Selank, and Semax is a prime example of this targeted action. This trio is designed to work in harmony with your natural rhythms, helping you achieve restorative sleep, emotional balance, and sharp cognition.” (sha256 e2c9f4db17277db1)
89. [PE-22-28 Peptide 2026: Benefits, Dosage, Side Effects & ...](https://injectco.com/pe-22-28-peptide-2026-benefits-dosage-side-effects-protocol/) — “In practice: PE-22-28 benefits people whose cognitive difficulties are driven by mood dysregulation — the brain fog, focus problems, and mental fatigue that accompany anxiety or low mood.” (sha256 5aa00e70c18866d6)
90. [Impact of Phenylalanine Elevations on Brain and Cognition ...](https://clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT07220265) — “The goal of this clinical trial is to advance our understanding of the cognitive and neurophysiologic sequelae associated with suboptimal phenylalanine ...” (sha256 32df93105aef6b0f)
91. [Association Between Sleep Quality and Cognitive Function in Patients with Hypertension in Rural Areas of Shanxi Province, China: The Chain Mediating Role of Anxiety and Depression](https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC13069951/) — “The results of the structural equation model analysis demonstrated that sleep quality was directly associated with cognitive function in patients with hypertension, with a path coefficient of −0.544, accounting for 59.85% of the total association. Anxiety and depressive symptoms showed a mediating role in the relationship between sleep quality and cognitive function, with indirect effects of −0.190 and −0.069, accounting for 20.90% and 7.59% of the total association, respecti” (sha256 ed97d6162d9c2005)
92. [Association between nighttime sleep duration and cognitive function among older adults in rural areas of northern China: a cross-sectional study](https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC12283587/) — “Nighttime sleep duration showed a weak positive correlation with cognitive function (r = 0.071 ... The prevalence of cognitive impairment was 35.7%.” (sha256 50d81859176a267c)
93. [Associations of chronic insomnia, longitudinal cognitive decline, and incident dementia: a prospective cohort study](https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC12425456/) — “Our study provides important evidence supporting an association between insomnia, cognitive decline and increased risk for CI. Insomnia with ...” (sha256 b678a16d4876b474)
94. [The Role of Sleep and the Effects of Sleep Loss on Cognitive Function and Emotional Regulation](https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC12168795/) — “This narrative review synthesizes contemporary research on the effects of sleep and sleep loss on waking behavior, with a focus on attention, ...” (sha256 3c8ac06e978046a1)
95. [Cognitive function, sleep characteristics and their relationship in older adults with insomnia and anxiety](https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC12365284/) — “Cognitive function and polysomnography sleep were worse in older adults with insomnia and anxiety. Decreased N3 sleep, increased N1 sleep, and increased WASO may be potential biological markers of cognitive decline in older adults with insomnia and anxiety.” (sha256 1816994e5b0783d4)
96. [Interplay between insomnia, anxiety, and depression](https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC12188888/) — “The study by Li et al[1] underscores the intricate interplay between insomnia, cognitive failures, and neuroticism in shaping mental health outcomes.” (sha256 689d6bc809b222e2)
97. [Sleep Disturbance in MCI: A Study of a Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Insomnia (CBT-I) Intervention](https://clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT05568381) — “The investigators will conduct a fully online study comparing 6-weeks of digital behavioural therapy for insomnia (CBT-I) against online sleep health education.” (sha256 2693f0ae29a176cb)
98. [Cognitive training at home for clinically defined insomnia](https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC12907364/) — “This study examined whether engagement with a home-based computerized cognitive training (CCT) program is associated with changes in sleep quality.” (sha256 1424666b645a074b)
99. [Sleep disturbance is a stronger predictor of anxiety](https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S1389945724003058) — “Sleep disturbance increase the risk of anxiety by 1.9-fold. Anxiety increased the risk of sleep disturbance by 1.2-fold. ... Sleep disturbance and anxiety are mutually causal, and the effect of poor sleep on anxiety seems to be more significant.” (sha256 8beb83e027ce317a)
100. [Sleep Disorders in Neurodegenerative Diseases with Cognitive Decline](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/41096196/) — “Disrupted sleep may directly aggravate neuropsychiatric symptoms, like depression, anxiety , agitation, and hallucinations, and conversely, such symptoms can ...” (sha256 73469fc004bdeb7f)
101. [Sleep deprivation in dementia comorbidities: focus on cardiovascular disease, diabetes, anxiety/depression and thyroid disorders](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/39571101/) — “Sleep problems in dementia patients are not only common but also contribute to a faster progression of cognitive decline and increased burden on caregivers. ... This anxiety could then exacerbate the cognitive decline, creating a vicious cycle.” (sha256 d6ac9acbd4da28e7)
102. [From Anxiety, Depression to Major Neurocognitive Disorders](https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC12922723/) — “chronic anxiety can lead to memory impairment directly by increasing steroid levels, and indirectly through increasing the risk of sleep disturbances.” (sha256 11f982a274f5e14f)
103. [Artificial Intelligence (AI)-Assisted Sleep Intervention for Insomnia in Older Adults With Subjective Cognitive Decline](https://clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT07588035) — “Not yet recruiting. Artificial Intelligence (AI)-Assisted Sleep Intervention for Insomnia in Older Adults With Subjective Cognitive Decline.” (sha256 d03fc6a01c56da17)
104. [Sleep disorders increase the risk of dementia, Alzheimer’s disease, and cognitive decline: a meta-analysis](https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC12181552/) — “Sleep disorders, particularly insomnia and obstructive sleep apnea, are increasingly implicated as significant contributors to cognitive decline, dementia, and neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s disease (AD) and vascular cognitive impairment and dementia (VCID).” (sha256 ad541650b4f804ba)
105. [Efficacy of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Insomnia to Improve Daytime Functioning in Older Adults With Insomnia](https://clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT06428006) — “The objective of the proposed study is to determine the efficacy of cognitive behavioral therapy for insomnia (CBT-I) to improve insomnia symptoms (Aim 1)” (sha256 c1603ecee317c59b)
106. [Enhancing sleep, wakefulness, and cognition with transcranial photobiomodulation in older adults with insomnia](https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC12350269/) — “Following 8 weeks of once daily t-PBM treatment, 11 participants reported improvement in anxiety symptoms and sleep quality, as shown by a ...” (sha256 d4769971b8a4d931)
107. [Cognitive function, sleep characteristics and their relationship in older adults with insomnia and anxiety](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/40830202/) — “To analyze cognitive function, sleep characteristics and the relationship in older adults with insomnia and anxiety . A total of 99 participants were included in ...” (sha256 dbb0cc528eb02a9b)
108. [Sleep Stimulation to Enhance Waste Clearance in the Brain](https://clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT07051239) — “This study aims to examine whether multi-night closed-loop auditory stimulation (CLAS) during sleep can enhance waste clearance and memory consolidation in healthy adults and older adults with subjective cognitive decline or mild cognitive impairment who exhibit elevated brain amyloid levels...” (sha256 af128f1b2d0805e2)
109. [Depressive symptoms and cognitive impairment among older rural Chinese women: the mediating roles of anxiety and sleep quality](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/42180458/) — “Conclusion: This study identified a modifiable pathway in older rural Chinese women: anxiety and sleep quality sequentially mediated the link between depressive ...” (sha256 46fdf2fb7a1df0b8)
110. [than pain and physical limitation: the declined cognitive ...](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/40898223/) — “This study highlights that while pain intensity itself was not a predictor of cognitive decline , other associated symptoms like sleep disturbances and ...” (sha256 17bb7dd9e2ebe559)
111. [Paradoxical insomnia/anxiety reaction to Selank?](https://www.reddit.com/r/Nootropics/comments/1ua8doj/paradoxical_insomniaanxiety_reaction_to_selank/) — “Around the same time, my sleep got much worse. I couldn’t fall asleep until 4–5 a.m. and only slept a few hours. My anxiety also got worse, probably partly from the lack of sleep and worrying about whether I’d sleep the next night. Since stopping Selank, my sleep has slowly been getting back to normal.” (sha256 6b9640cb101c9fb7)
112. [Magnesium deficiency symptoms post](https://x.com/micheal_ws18/status/2071579336612745293) — “Low magnesium in brain: brain fog & anxiety → Low magnesium in sleep: poor sleep & insomnia” (sha256 c907162eb58fd146)