Gaby
It turns out that night owls, or those who thrive in the late hours, may age mentally faster than early risers. To uncover this, a team of researchers from the University of Groningen in the Netherlands conducted a decade-long study involving 23,798 participants aged 40 and older. Led by dementia expert Ana Wentzler, the scientists discovered that nighttime activity negatively impacts cognitive abilities, bringing individuals closer to dementia.
Testing among participants revealed that it wasn’t just late bedtimes that contributed to cognitive decline. According to the study’s findings, night owls with higher education levels faced an even greater risk of accelerated brain aging.
Additionally, harmful habits common among night owls, such as smoking—a known risk factor for developing dementia—also played a role in diminishing cognitive abilities. The researchers noted that night owls often lead unhealthier lifestyles, which, as we know, adversely affects brain health.
Previous studies on this topic have largely produced mixed results and were based on various approaches, as reported by Science Alert. However, there is a wealth of prior research linking sleep patterns to quality of life, including studies that connect night shift work to numerous health issues.
The Burden of Knowledge
The researchers proposed several hypotheses regarding why well-educated night owls face significant cognitive decline. One potential culprit is their fixed and regular work schedules. These individuals often have to wake up early, even if they went to bed late, leaving their brains little time to recover.
Another hypothesis suggests that more educated individuals may have started with higher cognitive abilities, making any decline more noticeable.
Experts estimate that there are currently around 57 million cases of dementia worldwide. This number is expected to more than double by 2050. Therefore, studying the causes of dementia is highly relevant.
“Given the increasing life expectancy and aging populations worldwide, maintaining cognitive health has become an urgent global challenge,” the researchers wrote in their report.
The findings of the study were published in the Journal of Prevention of Alzheimer’s Disease.
