Too little sleep in middle age associated with increased risk of dementia

Sleeping six hours or less a night in their 50s and 60s is associated with an increased risk of dementia, according to a new study of nearly 8,000 UK adults followed for more than 25 years.

Scientists said that while the research, which was based on data from a long-term study, could not prove cause and effect, it did link sleep and dementia as people age.

The study, published Tuesday in the journal Nature Communications, showed a higher risk of dementia in those who sleep six or less hours a night at the age of 50 or 60, compared with those who have a “normal” seven hours in bed.

There was also a 30 percent higher risk of dementia in people with consistently short sleep patterns from the ages of 50 to 70, regardless of cardiometabolic or mental health problems, which are known risk factors for dementia.

The study authors from the French national health research institute INSERM analyzed data from a long-term study by University College London, which has monitored the health of 7,959 British individuals since 1985.

Participants indicated their sleep duration themselves, while about 3,900 of them also wore a watch at night to confirm their estimates.

Nearly ten million new cases of dementia, including Alzheimer’s disease, are counted every year, according to the World Health Organization, and sleep disturbances are a common symptom.

But a growing body of research suggests that sleep patterns before the onset of dementia may also contribute to the development of the disease.

Time spent sleeping is linked to the risk of dementia in older adults – 65 and older – but it is unclear whether this link is also true for younger age groups, the authors said.

They said future research can determine whether improving sleep patterns can help prevent dementia.

“Many of us have had a bad night’s sleep and probably know that it can affect our memory and thinking in the short term, but an intriguing question is whether long-term sleep patterns can affect our risk of dementia,” Sara Imarisio, told Head of Research at Alzheimer’s Research UK at Science Media Center.

She said that while there is no magic bullet to prevent dementia, there is some evidence that not smoking, drinking moderately, staying mentally and physically active, and eating well are among the things that can “help keep our brains healthy as we age. “.

© 2021 AFP