“Hearst Magazines and Yahoo can earn a committee or income on certain articles via these links.”
Alzheimer’s disease is a devastating affection that has an impact on millions of families around the world. But scientists are still trying to determine the elements that explain why some people develop Alzheimer’s disease and others not. Now a new study suggests that your sleep models can play a role.
The study, which was published in the journal Alzheimer’s and dementia On January 27, specifically examined the relationship between paradoxical sleep and Alzheimer’s disease. But what is the link between the two and, more importantly, how can you use this information to reduce your risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease? A neurologist explains.
Meet the expert:: W. Christopher WinterMD, neurologist and doctor in sleep medicine with neurology and sleep medicine of Charlottesville and the host of Sleep disconnected podcast.
What does the study found?
For the study, the researchers examined how long it took 123 people to reach the rapid sleep of eye movements (REM) for the first time after falling asleep, as well as several biomarkers linked to Alzheimer’s disease. (REM sleep is a sleep stage where your eyes move quickly and you dream, according to the Cleveland Clinic. It is important for learning and memory too.)
Among the participants, 64 had an Alzheimer’s disease and 41 had a slight cognitive impairment, while the others had a normal cognitive function. All participants did a sleep study, as well as analyzes for biomarkers indicating Alzheimer’s disease.
Researchers discovered that people who took more time to go to the REM sleep stage were more likely to have biomarkers of Alzheimer’s disease.
Is there a relationship between sleep and Alzheimer’s disease?
The relationship between sleep and Alzheimer’s disease is still being expression. Alzheimer’s company notes that people living with dementia tend to have sleep problems, but evidence is currently not clear to find out if poor sleep is a risk factor for the disease.
However, some research suggests that a bad sleep may increase your risk of Alzheimer’s. A study published in November revealed that 35% of people who were considered poor sleepers (and felt excessively tired during the day accordingly) continued to develop cognitive risk syndrome (MCR), which is considered as a Precursor of dementia.
“Poor sleep quality has been linked to Alzheimer’s disease,” said W. Christopher WinterMD, neurologist and doctor in sleep medicine with neurology and sleep medicine of Charlottesville and the host of Sleep disconnected podcast. “Conversely, people who sleep well and sleep consistent on a coherent schedule seem to reduce their risk of cognitive impairment.”
Can a lack of paradoxical sleep increase my risk of Alzheimer’s?
It is difficult to say it at this stage. Although researchers have concluded that more studies are necessary, they also said that a slower movement for paradoxical sleep could serve as a “potential marker” for Alzheimer’s disease.
Since good sleep is linked to good overall health, it cannot hurt to try to improve your sleep.
How can I sleep more RE?
Most people go through four to six sleep cycles per night, and paradoxical sleep is one of them. Unfortunately, you cannot dictate the sleep steps you enter and when. What you can do is try to focus on the right sleep, the end point.
Winter offers these tips to help support a good sleep:
-
Have a time to sleep and wake up, and do your best to stand.
-
Try to be physically active and aim to train in the morning to support the natural sleep cycle / natural wake of your body.
-
Create a good coherent sleeping routine that helps you relax for the evening.
-
Beware of sleeping pills. “Ironically, certain sleep aids affect paradoxical sleep,” explains Winter.
How can I reduce my risk of Alzheimer’s?
Researchers do not know exactly what causes Alzheimer’s disease and dementia, which makes knowledge with certainty of preventing it. But the centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommend doing these things to help reduce your risk:
-
Try to prevent or manage diabetes
-
Manage your blood pressure
-
Try to prevent or correct hearing loss
-
Try to limit or avoid drinking alcohol
-
Try to limit or avoid smoking
If you have trouble sleeping, winter says it is important to consult a health professional as soon as possible. They should be able to do a sleep study – which can give you more information on what is happening behind your sleep problems and make personalized recommendations from there.
You might also love
