According to a recent study, people between the ages of 50 and 70 who sleep only six hours or less per night are at greater risk of dementia. Nevertheless, the study does not firmly establish a causal relationship.
Sleep is vital for good health. INSERM, the University of Paris and University College London (UK) jointly published a study in the journal Nature Communications on April 20, 2021. As part of this research, the scientists included no less than 8,000 UK adults aged around 50 whose follow-up lasted 25 years. Despite the extent of this work, the results do not allow a cause and effect relationship to be established according to Séverine Sabia (INSERM), director of the study. On the other hand, they tend to suggest that the duration of sleep from the age of fifty could be involved in the development of dementia.
Every year in the world, no less than ten million new cases of dementia are reported. However, among the diseases affecting the brain in this way, the most common is, unsurprisingly, Alzheimer's disease. The fact is that patients often have sleep problems. Sleep cycles are also likely to contribute to the development of the disease, study finds , even before the onset of dementia.
Specifically, this new study looks at people who sleep less than or equal to six hours a night at age fifty or sixty. They would have a risk of dementia higher by 20 to 40% . Studies also report a 30% increased risk of dementia in people aged 50 to 70 with consistently short sleep duration.
“Previous studies have reported an increased risk of dementia in those who sleep longer than average, but the results have been inconsistent. Further studies, including more people with longer sleep times, will be needed to understand the role of sleep duration in dementia risk “, can we read in the document.
In addition, this greater risk in patients would have no connection with their possible cardiovascular, metabolic or mental health problems, which are known to favor the appearance dementia. According to the study scientists, since sleep in mid-life may play a role in brain health, the importance of good sleep hygiene is essential.
