Lack of Sleep Contributes to Alzheimer’s, Studies Suggest

Posted by Scott Cantin in Alzheimer's Disease, mental health | 0 comments

You might want to start rethinking about hitting that all-night sleep. Studies are suggesting that the lack of sleep and sleep disturbances leads to Alzheimer’s disease.

According to a study published in the Journal of Alzheimer’s Disease, the chemical changes in brain cells caused by lack of sleep (resulting into a jet lag-like effect) contributes to learning and memory loss. Though some may consider their sleep disturbances as something normal, older adults experience this more frequently. These becomes more severe when Alzheimer’s disease is apparent.

Sleep problems that commonly affect people with Alzheimer’s are:

• Inability to sleep
• Inability to keep a fixed sleeping schedule

Unfortunately, there has been no clear and defined explanation why this happens. However, what we do know is that those suffering from Alzheimer’s tend to stay up late more often and are easily awaken at night. However, they are often sleepy during the day and can get restless and/or agitated during the late afternoon or early evening. Brain studies also indicates that there are also a significant decrease in the dreaming and non-dreaming stages of sleep.

These are what experts believe that people in the late stages possess:

• They spend more that 40% of the night awake
• Spends a significant amount of time sleeping during the day
• Some experiencing a complete reversal on their day-night sleeping schedule

However, just because these are highly prevalent in the late stages does not mean they cannot happen in the early stages as well. Studies also say that these symptoms can also be found on those who are in the early stages of Alzheimer’s disease.

The most alarming thing about disturbed sleep is that this impairs performance in day-to-day activities and tasks. Researchers from the University of California-Irvine conducted an experiment on mice that shows on how altering the natural day-night sleeping patterns can affect memory. They have also come to a conclusion that in order to prevent memory loss, one should always make sure that they have good sleeping habits. Furthermore, these should coincide with regular exercise and a healthy diet in order to boost and improve memory.

However, before you start popping in those sleeping pills, you should also know that these do not help in getting the good and right kind of sleep; specifically for adults. In the end, this also causes serious side effects that will damage one’s overall health.

It is highly suggested that natural food and supplements as well as a change of lifestyle create a more effective effect if one want to achieve that good kind of sleep.

Here are some suggestions on how you can get that right kind of snooze:

• Minimize caffeine intake during the day
• No caffeinated drinks like softdrinks at night
• Avoid working at home, specifically in the bedroom. If you have to, have a separate room to serve as a working space.
• Go to the bathroom before sleeping and avoid a full bladder.
• Create a regular schedule of eating sleeping
• Follow an exercise regimen, however, not within 4 hours before bedtime
• Create a restful ambience in your bedroom such as a nightlight and a temperature you are most comfortable in