People told ideal number of hours they should sleep to reduce risk of dementia
Experts say the best amount of sleep to dodge dementia is six to eight hours a night. Dementia, which makes it hard for people to think and remember, is a big problem for older folks around the world.
Scientists have linked Alzheimer's, a common type of dementia, with not sleeping well. They say if you don't snooze regularly, you might be more likely to get dementia. New studies show that getting the right amount of sleep can help keep dementia away when you're older.
Matthew Kiernan from the Brain Foundation says good sleep is super important for your brain. When we sleep deeply, our glymphatic system gets to work. He explained that this system "really a reservoir that puts all of the fluid through the brain and cleans out toxic chemicals."
READ MORE: Two subtle symptoms of dementia to look out for in loved ones at home
More than six million Americans of all ages have Alzheimer's, according to the Alzheimer's Association (Stock photo) (InYourArea)"It only becomes active when we're in the deepest REM (rapid eye movement) sleep," Mr Kiernan said. Harvard Medical School research backs this up, saying sleep for six to eight hours helps prevent dementia.
Family of great-great-gran, 83, killed by dog call for Bully breed to be banned
Andrew E. Budson, MD, from Harvard Health Publishing wrote: "Inadequate sleep in midlife may lead to dementia." He warned that if you only sleep five hours because of work, you should change your ways or you might get dementia by the time you retire!
Earlier this year, a study suggested that conditions like depression, alcohol abuse and diabetes could increase the risk of young-onset dementia. This refers to when symptoms of dementia appear before the age of 65.
For all the latest news, politics, sports, and showbiz from the USA, go to The Mirror US
Another study published at the end of 2023 discovered a protein in the brain of patients suffering from a specific form of dementia - frontotemporal dementia. The research found that a protein called TAF15 builds up between the nerve cells of these patients.
The National Institutes of Health explains that TAF15 is a gene that "encodes a member of the TET family of RNA-binding proteins. The encoded protein plays a role in RNA polymerase II gene transcription as a component of a distinct subset of multi-subunit transcription initiation factor TFIID complexes." This means, TAF15 is a protein that helps with RNA functions, which are part of DNA functions and the creation of genes in cells.
* An AI tool was used to add an extra layer to the editing process for this story. You can report any errors to [email protected]
Read more similar news:
Comments:
comments powered by Disqus
