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Do you struggle to fall asleep or stay asleep? A poor night's sleep often leaves your brain feeling foggy the next day. Ongoing sleep difficulties could have serious long-term effects on brain health. New research indicates that sleep is essential for various brain functions, including cognitive health.
The study revealed that older adults with chronic insomnia had a 40% higher risk of developing mild cognitive impairment or dementia compared to those without sleep issues. Researchers estimate these effects equate to approximately 3.5 years of accelerated brain aging.
Insomnia, a sleep disorder causing difficulty in falling or staying asleep, affects over 16% of the global population. Chronic insomnia, where individuals struggle to sleep well for three or more nights a week for over three months, impacts many of these people.
The study analyzed data from over 2,700 cognitively healthy adults, averaging 70 years of age, tracked over a five-year period. About 16% of participants had chronic insomnia. All underwent annual cognitive assessments, with some also receiving brain imaging to explore connections between sleep issues and brain alterations.
At the study’s conclusion, 14% of participants with chronic insomnia developed mild cognitive decline or dementia, compared to 10% without insomnia, suggesting insomnia as a preventable factor for brain health decline.
These findings highlight sleep's critical role in maintaining brain health. When insomnia is shown to harm brain structures and hasten cognitive decline, it underscores the need to prioritize treating sleep disorders as a core aspect of healthcare.
To view the original scientific study click below:
Associations of Chronic Insomnia, Longitudinal Cognitive Outcomes, Amyloid-PET, and White Matter Changes in Cognitively Normal Older Adults
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