There’s nothing quite like a little afternoon nap every now and then. However, if you find that your napping starts to interfere with your daily activities, you may want to get yourself checked out. This is because there is a chance that your daytime sleepiness may be indicative of a higher risk of developing dementia.
The Dementia Risk Associated with Daytime Sleepiness
A study published in Neurology found that 35.5% of people who experienced daytime sleepiness and a marked lack of enthusiasm developed motoric cognitive risk syndrome. In contrast, only 6.7% of those without these issues developed the same condition. Motoric cognitive risk syndrome is a condition common in older adults characterized by slow walking and memory problems, who don’t yet have dementia or difficulty moving. MCR was first described in 2013 and the risk of eventually developing dementia doubles in patients already diagnosed with it.
Studies On Daytime Sleepiness
Previous studies found a significant connection between sleep issues and an increased risk of dementia. However, many of these studies only looked at the link at one specific moment, and there hasn’t been much research on how different sleep issues relate to pre-dementia conditions. This is specifically what the study aimed to explore further. According to the authors of the study, “Establishing the relationship between sleep dysfunction and MCR risk is important because early intervention may offer the best hope for preventing dementia.”
How The Study Worked
The study’s findings were based on 445 individuals recruited from Westchester County for the Central Control of Mobility and Aging study. This study assesses the various brain mechanisms and cognitive processes that regulate mobility in the elderly. The participants were 76 years of age on average. The participants were asked to walk on treadmills in order to record their initial gaits. Thereafter, they were assessed annually from 2011 until 2018. Their recollections of the quality of their sleep were also recorded.
Findings of the Daytime Sleepiness Study
Over a roughly three-year follow-up period, 36 of the participants ended up developing motoric cognitive risk syndrome. On average, poor sleepers had only a slightly greater risk of MCR. However, when the various components of bad sleep were considered separately, they found that daytime sleepiness specifically was linked to a 3.3 times greater risk of developing the condition. Based on the findings of the study, it is likely that physicians will observe their patients’ sleeping patterns more closely from now on.
The Limitations of the Study
While the study has proven beneficial in expanding our understanding of sleep’s effect on the brain, doctors have pointed out a few significant limitations of the study. First of all, the sleep data was self-reported. This means that the participants were asked to report their own sleep habits rather than having them recorded by the scientists. This could potentially introduce bias, especially among those individuals who may already be experiencing issues with their memory. Furthermore, the study’s participants were mainly white, and the group was smaller compared to comparable studies. This means the findings would need further confirmation from larger and more diverse studies to bolster their findings.
Daytime Sleepiness and Brain Health: What We Still Don’t Know
The study’s three-year duration is longer than some previous studies. However, it still doesn’t provide a long-term view of how bad sleeping patterns affect brain decline. MCR is not fully understood since it was only recently described, and experts are still working to determine its causes. One major challenge in understanding the condition is the lack of definitive biomarkers. Furthermore, experts say that sleep may play a role in clearing neurotoxins in the brain. Therefore, sleep deprivation could potentially contribute to the buildup of Alzheimer ’s-related proteins in our bodies. This is why more research is needed to uncover the mechanisms behind these associations.
Monitoring the Elderly’s Sleep Health
Doctors are learning every day just how important quality sleep is to our overall long-term health. Therefore, monitoring the sleep health of the elderly may go a long way to reducing the risk of declining brain function. If you are having problems sleeping, see your doctor and try to tackle the causes of your bad sleep. Depending on the problem, there are a range of medications that have already proven to be effective.
The Bottom Line
This study on daytime sleepiness really drives home how important sleep is for our brain health. Eating properly, staying active, and maintaining a healthy weight, – can all help reduce the risk of developing dementia. However, getting proper sleep at the right time is just as important for your brain in the long run. If you find yourself experiencing daytime sleepiness to the degree that it’s interfering with your daily activities – see your doctor.
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