Learn Dutch: Chronisch slaaptekort verstoort de slaap. - Chronic sleep deficit disturbs sleep.

Slaaptekort is a neuter noun (it is het tekort). When a het word is used without an article, or with the indefinite article een, the adjective preceding it drops the -e ending. Because this sentence speaks about chronic sleep deficit in a general, uncountable sense, there is no article, resulting in chronisch slaaptekort.

What is the difference between storen and verstoren?

While both can translate to 'disturb', they are used in different contexts. Storen is used for interrupting an action or bothering a person (like knocking on a door while someone works). Verstoren means to severely disrupt, spoil, or throw a system out of balance. Because a sleep deficit disrupts a natural biological process, verstoren is the right verb here.

Why does Dutch use de slaap at the end when the English translation is just 'sleep'?

In Dutch, it is very common to use definite articles (de or het) for abstract concepts, broad categories, and natural states where English uses zero article. Just as Dutch says de natuur for 'nature' or de liefde for 'love', it uses de slaap when referring to 'sleep' as a general phenomenon.