Getting a good night’s sleep might be even more beneficial than we thought.
Researchers from the University of California, Berkeley, have been able to draw a link between the amount of quality sleep someone is having now, and the likelihood that they may develop Alzheimer’s later.
“We have found that the sleep you’re having right now is almost like a crystal ball telling you when and how fast Alzheimer’s pathology will develop in your brain,” says Professor Mathew Walker from the University of California, Berkeley.
In the study, Professor Walker and his colleagues observed the overnight sleep quality of 32 healthy adults in their 60s, 70s and 80s against the build-up of beta-amyloid in their brains.
Beta-amyloid is a toxic plaque plays a key role in the onset and progression of Alzheimer’s.
Researchers were able to draw a correlation between overall sleep quality and beta-amyloid growth, reinforcing the link between poor sleep and the disease.
But there is a silver lining.
Professor Walker says identifying the problem (lack of sleep) gives us a chance to act on it.
“The brain washes itself during deep sleep, and so there may be the chance to turn back the clock by getting more sleep earlier in life,” he said.
So the next time someone berates you for sleeping in, tell them you’re doing it for your health!
Tips to improve sleep quality
- Maintain regular sleep routine
- Avoid computer, smartphone and TV screens
- Engage in some form of physical exercise
- Get exposure to natural daylight during the day
- Avoid stimulants like caffeine and sedatives like alcohol later in the day
