Study: Chronic sleep deprivation may lead to brain aging

Researchers have shown that chronic sleep deprivation can lead to brain aging. The study also emphasizes the importance of sleep for brain health.

Insomnia is a common problem. One in two Dutch people struggle with sleep problems , according to recent research by EenVandaag . An occasional sleepless night isn't a big deal, but it's a different story if you suffer from chronic insomnia. This is defined as "sleep disturbances lasting at least three nights a week, for three months or longer." This form of insomnia can have a long-term impact on our cognitive performance, including brain aging.

There have long been concerns about the effects of chronic sleep deprivation on our brains. Poor sleep is linked to a range of health conditions, including depression, weight gain, and type 2 diabetes, as Metro previously reported. The research, published in the international scientific journalNeurology , confirms these earlier concerns. In this work, an American team points to a link between chronic sleep deprivation and accelerated brain aging.

The researchers followed over 2,700 older adults for an average of five years. Participants with chronic sleep deprivation had a 40 percent higher risk of developing mild cognitive impairment or dementia than their peers without insomnia. Cognitive tests also showed that their brain function was similar to that of people who were, on average, 3.5 years older.

Brain scans of some of the participants also showed increased white matter changes and amyloid deposits. These are characteristics associated with an increased risk of cognitive decline and Alzheimer's disease.

"While the causal link remains to be demonstrated, these results emphasize the importance of treating chronic insomnia, not only to improve sleep quality but also to maintain brain health over time," says neurologist Diego Carvalho of Rochester Hospital in the United States.