Why Sleep Matters for Brain Health
Not getting enough good sleep is a serious risk factor for brain disease. Today, sleep is seen as just as important for health as diet and exercise. It is important to see how long you sleep, how well you sleep, and when you sleep.
New research shows that poor sleep can strongly affect both your body and your brain, making it an important risk factor to address.
- Increases Risk of Other Health Conditions: Not sleeping well increases your risk of health problems, such as high blood sugar and weight gain.
- Increases Dementia Risk: For adults over age 50, poor sleep is linked to about a 30% higher risk of dementia.
- Possible Sleep Apnea: If you snore loudly or feel very tired in the morning, you may have obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). OSA can greatly raise your risk of high blood pressure, heart attack, and stroke.
You Have Control
You have the power to improve your sleep by making changes to your daily habits.
- Improve Other Lifestyle Factors: Working on your weight, diet, physical activity, and social connections can all help improve sleep. These all affect how well you sleep. Extra weight can cause sleep problems, unhealthy eating and little exercise can make sleep worse, and strong social connections help reduce stress. This shows how closely connected your health habits really are.
- Fix Your Sleep Timing: When you sleep matters. Studies show that people who regularly stay up very late and sleep in may have higher health risks. Try slowly going to bed earlier and waking up earlier to support better sleep.
Partnering With Your Doctor
Doctors take poor sleep seriously and see it as part of your overall health.
- Be Open: If you snore or feel tired during the day, your doctor may suggest a sleep study to check for sleep apnea – there are effective treatments available.
- Look at the Whole Picture: Your doctor may also check your blood pressure and weight. These risks are connected and can be made worse by poor sleep. Treating them together is one of the best ways to protect your future brain health.
Take action today to improve your sleep and help decrease your risk of conditions that may cause brain disease in the future.
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