Your sleep patterns can provide a window into brain health and dementia risk, as studies have found that people who get little sleep – six hours or less – have a higher risk of developing dementia. dementiaAnd other research has shown that more sleep is also linked to a higher risk of dementia bestlife online.
Other sleep characteristics, such as when you go to bed and wake up, if you have sleep apnea, and the total time you spend in bed, can provide insight into your likelihood of developing dementia.
According to a new study published in the journal eClinicalMedicine Journal Recurring nightmares can also be an indicator of future cognitive decline.
The researchers looked at the relationship between the frequency of nightmares and the risk of dementia in middle-aged adults and the elderly and found that both men and women who had weekly nightmares were at significantly higher risk.
Although both men and women who had frequent nightmares had a higher risk of dementia, the researchers found that the association was much stronger in men than in women.
Older men who had nightmares every week were five times more likely to develop dementia than older men who didn’t report bad dreams.
Bad dreams don’t necessarily mean you’ll develop dementia, but researchers believe monitoring recurring nightmares can lead to early diagnosis of patients with dementia.
There are 55 million people living with dementia worldwide, experts say, and the number is expected to increase dramatically in the coming decades.
Although there is no cure for dementia, early detection has many benefits, including a better quality of life, more effective treatments, and the opportunity to make important decisions about your health care.
That’s why it’s helpful to know the signs that you may be at increased risk for dementia, including the symptoms that can occur during sleep.
