Study: poor sleep quality tied to higher dementia risk

WEB DESK: A new study from Monash University reveals that losing just 1 per cent of deep sleep each year could raise the risk of dementia by 27 percent for individuals over the age of 60.

According to Epoch Times, the research, conducted over multiple years, followed 346 people aged 60 and older, with 52 of them exhibiting some form of dementia linked to deteriorating sleep quality.

According to Associate Professor Matthew Pase, who led the study, good sleep quality plays a crucial role in supporting the aging brain. Sleep aids in removing waste products from the brain, including proteins associated with Alzheimer’s disease.

The research also investigated if genetic factors for Alzheimer’s disease or early signs of brain shrinkage were linked to declining sleep quality.

Pase said that deep sleep is vital for an aging brain and that the benefits extend to individuals of all ages. He stressed that the diseases contributing to dementia can begin developing 10 to 20 years before dementia onset, making sleep quality crucial in mid-life to shape brain health in later years.

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Maintaining deep sleep levels as people age is recommended, rather than focusing on set hours of deep sleep per night. Pase also mentioned that napping during the day can be beneficial if it helps individuals feel more refreshed, though it was not part of the study.

Furthermore, research conducted at the University of Queensland’s Brain Institute suggests that sleep apnea, which leads to a lack of deep sleep due to oxygen deprivation, is a root cause of the increased risk of dementia.

Around 50 per cent of older adults experience obstructive sleep apnea, characterized by interrupted breathing during sleep.

The standard treatment for sleep apnea is the use of a CPAP (continuous positive airway pressure) machine, which helps maintain airflow and oxygen supply to the brain during sleep.

Early-stage human trials are underway to investigate the connection between oxygen deprivation and cognitive impairment and whether CPAP treatment can reduce dementia risk. It is essential for individuals with obstructive sleep apnea to consider using a CPAP machine to preserve cognitive function and address other health issues.

Some dementia patients have reported memory improvements after addressing their sleep problems.