Study Finds Poor Sleep in Early Middle Age Linked to Accelerated Brain Aging
New Delhi: A recent study published in journal Neurology indicates that poor sleep quality in early middle age could accelerate brain ageing. Researchers from the University of California, San Francisco, led by Clémence Cavaillès and Kristine Yaffe, analysed data from 589 participants, who were around 40 years old at the start of the study.
Participants completed sleep surveys both at the beginning and five years later, while brain scans were conducted 15 years after the study began to measure age-related brain changes.
The study examined various sleep problems, including short sleep duration, poor sleep quality, difficulty falling and staying asleep, early morning awakenings, and daytime sleepiness.
These issues were categorized into three groups: low, moderate, and high levels of sleep disturbances. The findings revealed that participants with moderate levels of sleep problems had brain ages approximately 1.6 years older, while those with severe sleep issues exhibited brain ageing that was 2.6 years ahead compared to those with minimal sleep problems.
“Our study, which used brain scans to determine participants' brain age, suggests that poor sleep is linked to nearly three years of additional brain ageing as early as middle age,” said lead author Clémence Cavaillès.
The researchers pointed out that brain shrinkage, observed in the scans, was a key indicator of this accelerated ageing. Poor sleep has also been linked to impaired thinking and memory in later life, increasing the risk of conditions such as dementia.
The study emphasizes the need for early interventions to maintain brain health. “Poor sleep was associated with advanced brain age in midlife, highlighting the importance of investigating early sleep interventions for preserving brain health,” noted Yaffe.
To combat the negative impact of poor sleep on the brain, the researchers recommend maintaining a consistent sleep schedule, engaging in regular exercise, avoiding caffeine and alcohol before bedtime, and incorporating relaxation techniques.
The researchers believe that addressing sleep problems early could help reduce the risk of neurodegenerative conditions like Alzheimer's disease.
Further studies are encouraged to explore the impact of sleep interventions in early and middle adulthood to prevent accelerated brain ageing and improve overall cognitive health.