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According to a new study, a lack of slow-wave sleep over the years increases the risk of developing dementia.
“We found that aging is associated with a reduction in the deepest phase of sleep, known as slow-wave sleep,” said Matthew Pace, the lead author of the study and an assistant professor in the Department of Psychology and Neurology at Monash University in Australia.
He noted that participants in the study who exhibited the shortest duration of slow-wave sleep were at a higher risk of developing dementia over the following 17 years of observation.
Slow-wave sleep, or deep sleep, is the most restorative stage of sleep. It accounts for 75-80 percent of the total duration of sleep and is crucial for brain health. During this phase, the brain undergoes restoration. While in slow-wave sleep, the body clears out unwanted or potentially harmful materials from the brain, including beta-amyloid protein, the accumulation of which in the form of plaques is a key indicator of Alzheimer’s disease.
What Scientists Discovered
The authors of the study aimed to determine whether chronic reductions in slow-wave sleep are linked to the risk of dementia. They also hypothesized that brain processes associated with dementia might contribute to a decrease in this sleep phase.
CNN. They participated in a series of long-term studies, including the Framingham Heart Study. (Initiated by the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute in 1948, it identifies common factors that lead to cardiovascular diseases. – Ed.).
The team meticulously examined data from volunteers who were diagnosed with dementia during the study. Researchers found that each percentage point decrease in slow-wave sleep per year was associated with a 27 percent increase in the risk of developing dementia, and a 32 percent increase in the risk of Alzheimer’s disease.
The rate of decline in slow-wave sleep accelerated after age 60, peaked between 75 and 80, and then slowed down.
Those who experienced a decrease in deep sleep were more likely to suffer from cardiovascular diseases, take medications that affect sleep, and carry the gene that increases the risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease (the APOE ε4 allele).
Quality Sleep Protects the Brain from Dementia
Researchers emphasize that it’s not just the total amount of sleep that matters, but also its quality.
As Matthew Pace pointed out, getting sufficient quality sleep is vital for many aspects of health, including its potential to help protect the brain from dementia. People who have sleep issues should consult their doctor about ways to improve their sleep.
night sleep. This can be achieved through specialized tracking devices that monitor time spent in bed, actual sleep time, and time spent in each sleep stage.
Improving nighttime rest can also involve lifestyle changes that incorporate several healthy habits. This will not only help protect sleep but also support brain health.
Key recommendations include regular exercise, limiting alcohol and caffeine intake, and maintaining a consistent sleep schedule of 7-9 hours each night.
The study’s findings were published in JAMA Neurology.
