Researchers at Harvard Medical School and Brigham and Women’s Hospital led by study author Rebecca Robbins found that sleep deprivation and dementia are closely linked in a representative, prospective study of people over 65 who had an average age of 76.
For the National Health and Aging Trends Study, national data from 2013/2014 and beyond were analyzed for five years and concluded that poor sleep quantity and sleep quality are strongly associated with risk for dementia and premature death.
Especially in the elderly, the risk of dementia is doubled when sleeping less than five hours per night, the researchers conclude. 2,610 participants have accompanied the sleep analysis in 2013 and 2014 and beyond (see above) with questionnaires.
Various factors were decisive: For example, long periods of falling asleep of 30 minutes or longer increase the risk of dementia by 45 percent. But the risk of death, or mortality rate, is also negatively influenced by three different factors. These include regular, short midday sleep, poor quality of sleep, and the aforementioned five hours or shorter night sleep.
The results of the evaluation of the study show the scientists that brain health is directly and closely connected with sufficient sleep and high-quality sleep. Everything possible must be done to ensure that older people, in particular, get their sleep disorders and lack of sleep under control, because then the risk of Alzheimer’s and similar diseases, as well as premature mortality, is reduced.
Source: www.heilpaxisnet.de