Around six million people in Germany struggle with sleep disorders that affect physical and mental health. Sleeping pills such as benzodiazepines or Z-drugs may offer short-term relief, but they can be addictive, disrupt deep sleep, and, according to new studies, increase the risk of dementia. Experts now recommend behavioral therapy as the first-line treatment. Sleep courses teach strategies to break cycles of stress and rumination, helping people return to natural, restorative sleep without side effects. Also on In Good Shape: How researchers in the United States developed a tailor-made gene therapy in record time. And: Why local anesthesia can replace general anesthesia in many surgeries — without the common side effects.