Bad sleep in adolescence associated with the risk of multiple sclerosis

by time news

A good night’s rest has many benefits for our body. However, some studies suggest that poor sleep is associated with an increased risk of multiple diseases, from cardiovascular to neurological. Now, a new work published in the “Journal of Neurology Neurosurgery & Psychiatry” shows that a insufficient sleep I disturbed during adolescence can increase risk back of multiple sclerosis (EM).

The study from the University of Karolinska (Sweden) shows that sleeping less than seven hours slightly increases this risk. However, the authors clarify, this does not mean that poor sleep is the cause of MS, but rather that it could be the consequence of already incubating the disease.

MS has been linked to genetic and environmental factors, such as smoking, adolescent weight (BMI), Epstein-Barr virus infection, sun exposure, and vitamin D. shift work it has also been associated with an increased risk, especially at a young age, but whether sleep patterns (duration, disruption of the body clock, and quality of sleep) may affect this risk has not yet been fully evaluated.

The researchers drew on a study of more than 5,000 cases and controls, the Epidemiological Investigation of Multiple Sclerosis (EIMS)which included residents Swedes from 16 to 70 years old.

People with MS were matched by age, sex, and residential area with two randomly selected healthy people from the national population register between 2005 and 2013 and 2015 and 2018.

The experts focused especially on the sleep patterns between the 15 and 19 yearsand the final analysis included 2,075 people with MS and 3,164 without the disease in this age group when they were recruited for the study.

In addition, the participants were asked about their sleep patterns at different ages: the duration of sleep on work or school days and on weekends or days off.

Short sleep was defined as less than 7 hours/night; adequate sleep from 7 to 9 hours; and prolonged sleep such as 10 or more hours.

They were also asked to assess the quality of sleep during different age periods using a scale of 5 points, where 5 equals very good.

The average age at which diagnosed with MS was 34 years old. Sleep duration and quality during adolescence were associated with the risk of an MS diagnosis, which increased along with fewer hours of sleep and poorer quality.

Compared to sleeping de 7 to 9 hours per night during adolescence, brief sleep was associated with a 40% increased risk of later developing MS, after accounting for a variety of potentially influential factors, including BMI at age 20 and smoking.

But prolonged sleep, even on weekends or days off, was not associated with an increased risk of MS.

In addition, subjectively assessed poor sleep quality during this period was associated with increased 50% in the risk of developing MS.

cautiously

The researchers caution that their findings should be interpreted with caution due to potential reverse causation, so lack of sleep could be a consequence of neurological damage and not the other way around.

But they note that lack of sleep and poor sleep quality are known to affect immune pathways and inflammatory signaling, while the biological clock is also involved in regulating the immune response.

For Pablo Villoslada, from IDIBAPS – Hospital Clínic, these results can help design public health policies, promoting healthy sleep in adolescents. “For people who already have the disease, improving their sleep will help improve their overall health, although it probably won’t change how their disease progresses,” he tells the Science Media Centre.

The study provides a new and important risk factor, because it is a preventable and avoidable factor

Insufficient or disturbed sleep is common among adolescents, a phenomenon that is partly explained by physiological, psychological and social changes during this age period, the researchers explain.

“Associations have also been shown between the use of social networks and sleep patterns. The availability of technology and internet access at any time contributes to adolescents not getting enough sleep and represents a major public health problem, “they add.

That is why they highlight the relevance of «the educational interventions aimed at adolescents and their parents on the negative consequences for the health of the insufficient sleep».

Celia Oreja-Guevara, from the San Carlos Clinical Hospital in Madrid, agrees with this. “The study provides a new and important risk factor, because it is a preventable and avoidable factor. Adolescents could be educated to sleep for at least seven hours and not reduce sleep hours due to the use of social networks, among other issues. she told SMC.

The researchers conclude that “insufficient sleep and poor sleep quality during adolescence appear to increase the risk of later developing MS. Sufficient restful sleep, necessary for proper immune function, may be another preventive factor against MS.”

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