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27
Apr 2021
Study finds middle-aged people who sleep less than six hours at greater risk of dementia
A major study into dementia has found that people who consistently sleep for six hours or less in middle age have an increased chance of developing dementia when compared to those who routinely sleep seven hours.
Researchers found a 30 per cent increased risk of dementia in those who during their 50s, 60s and 70s regularly had a shorter night’s sleep, regardless of other risk factors such as poor mental health and metabolic and heart conditions.
Although the study does not prove that sleeping too little causes dementia, since sleep loss itself could be one of the earliest symptoms of the disease, some scientists believe the results bolster evidence that persistent poor sleep may at least contribute to the neurodegenerative disease.
Study author Dr Severine Sabia of the University of Paris, said “These findings suggest that sleep duration might be a risk factor for dementia in later life. I cannot tell you that sleep duration is a cause of dementia but it may contribute to its development.”
Robert Howard, professor of old age psychiatry at University College London, said “We know that the first signs of Alzheimer’s disease appear in the brain 20 years before detectable cognitive impairment, so it is always possible that poor sleep might be a very early symptom of the condition, rather than a treatable risk factor.
“Insomniacs, who probably don’t need something else to ruminate about in bed, shouldn’t worry that they are heading for dementia unless they get off to sleep immediately.”
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Posted by Tony May, Partner/head of Clinical Negligence Department, Chadwick Lawrence LLP (tonymay@chadlaw.co.uk ), medical negligence lawyers and clinical negligence solicitors in Huddersfield, Leeds, Wakefield and Halifax, West Yorkshire.
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