2024-07-31 18:47:47
“Although scientists are convinced that there is a link between sleep and dementia, the nature of that link is complex. It could be due to lack of sleep changes in the brain that cause dementia. Or an underlying health problem that affects brain health may affect people’s sleep. And changes in sleep patterns can be an early sign of dementia itself,” he said. Dana Smithmental health specialist and prominent New York Times columnist.
According to experts, sleep acts as a shower at night for the brain, cleaning out cellular debris that accumulates during the day. During this process, the fluid surrounding the brain cells removes molecular debris and transfers it to the bloodstream, where it is filtered by the liver and kidneys and eliminated from the body.
These residues include the amyloid protein, which is believed to play a central role in Alzheimer’s disease. Our brain produces amyloid throughout the day, but problems can arise when the protein collects in sticky clumps, called plaques. The longer you are awake, the more amyloid accumulates and the less time the brain has to eliminate it.
Research among adults aged 65 to 85 who already have plaques in the brain has found that the less sleep they had, the more amyloid they had and the worse their cognition “The enough lack of sleep to cause dementia? Maybe not in itself,” he explained. Sudha Seshadri, director based on The Glenn Biggs Institute for Alzheimer’s Disease and Neurodegenerative Diseases at the University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio. “But it certainly seems to be a risk factor for increasing the risk of dementia and possibly decreasing the rate,” he said.
“People with Alzheimer’s disease can start to develop symptoms between the ages of 60 and 70, but amyloid can start to accumulate up to twenty years earlier. That’s why it’s important to prioritize sleep, trying to sleep between seven and nine hours a night, starting at age 40 or 50, if not earlier,” he explained. Joe Winer, a postdoctoral fellow in neuroscience and neuroscience at the Center for Sleep and Circadian Sciences at Stanford University.
“We don’t have a great answer as to whether sleeping at age 20 affects risk at the end of life, for example,” said the academic, adding: “But I think the evidence to suggest that “Middle Age, as you are” may be. approaching your 60s and 70s, sleep will be important.”
Some sleep disorders, especially sleep apnea, are associated with an increased risk of dementia. This may be because sleep apnea affects some people, or because it often occurs in people who are overweight or have diabetes, which are also associated with dementia. “However, even when the effect of these other problems is eliminated, sleep apnea appears to confer its own independent risk for dementia. “This could be because sleep apnea limits the amount of oxygen that reaches the brain, which can increase brain inflammation and damage blood vessels and cells,” he said. Diego Carvalho, associate professor of neurology at the Mayo Clinic Sleep Medicine Center.
At the other end of the spectrum, too much sleep appears to be linked to an increased risk of dementia, although perhaps more indirectly. If a person tends to stay in bed for more than nine hours a night, or takes multiple naps during the day, it could be a sign that they are a heavy sleeper. -bad, which could increase the risk of Alzheimer’s disease for the reasons mentioned above.
Another possibility is that the need for excessive sleep is related to a mental or physical disability. Mental disorders, such as depression, and physical disorders, such as diabetes or cardiovascular problems, are associated with an increased risk of dementia, as are physical inactivity, loneliness and isolation. “At this time, it is not clear what effect long sleep has on dementia,” Carvalho said, concluding: “It may be a symptom of an underlying problem rather than the cause of the problem.”
Some of the first areas of the brain to be affected by Alzheimer’s are those that help regulate sleep and circadian rhythms. As a result, people who develop the disease may have sleep problems even before they show signs of memory loss or other symptoms. Along with the amyloid protein, the other main protein thought to cause Alzheimer’s disease is called tau. “Tau also accumulates in the brain and ends up damaged brain cells. One of the first places where the accumulation of this protein appears are areas of the brain stem important for the regulation of sleep and wakefulness,” explained Winer.
“Sleep problems can be an early sign of other common forms of dementia. In dementia with Lewy bodies and dementia associated withParkinson’s diseaseFor example, rapid eye movements sometimes disrupt sleep, causing people to activate their dreams, which your bed partner may notice,” said Seshadri.
Experts say it’s normal for older people to sleep a little more or less after retirement, or to wake up and go to bed a little earlier or later than usual. However, if a significant change occurs, consider seeing your doctor or a sleep specialist.
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