Are you feeling more sleepy during the daytime with increasing age? That is not just a nuisance. According to a new study, heightened daytime sleepiness is associated with a greater risk for dementia, the gradual loss of memory which hinders one’s ability to perform daily tasks.
Dementia is becoming increasingly prevalent among the elderly. The most common form of dementia is Alzheimer’s disease. Researchers are now heralding sleep as a risk factor for the same. In a recently published study in Neurology, researchers tracked 445 older adults with an average age of 76 for three years to consider the association between sleep and cognitive decline. They found out that the people who claimed to experience excessive daytime sleepiness were much more prone to the onset of MCR which would eventually lead to dementia. 35.5% of those reporting oversleepiness during the day developed MCR, with contrasting results with people having normal alertness levels during the day.
People who “felt abnormally drowsy, lacked enthusiasm, and could not keep awake in the daytime” were over three times more likely to develop MCR than those who did not. Hence, it is not just how long or how soundly one sleeps at night but how well one functions when awake.
Interestingly, although poor sleep was linked to cognitive decline when researchers controlled for symptoms of depression, the relationship became weaker. This indicates that mental health could be one major factor in elevating dementia risks. Improved sleep quality may just be one end, but mental well-being can be the game-changer in protecting the brain.
Researchers are now asking older adults to focus attention on both their sleep habits as well as mental health. Avoid daytime sleepiness, have a consistent sleep cycle, and keep your mind and thoughts active to potentially reduce the risks of cognitive decline. If you catch yourself yawning in the middle of the day, it is probably time to have another look at your sleep patterns and to keep your brain well-rested yet alert. A sharp mind and body are some of the best protection against dementia.
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