New Research Links Insomnia to Increased Dementia Risk
Recent research indicates a meaningful connection between insomnia and cognitive decline, with individuals experiencing chronic sleep disruption facing a potentially 40% higher risk of cognitive impairment. The study, focused on older adults over a period of less than six years, revealed that improved sleep patterns correlated with measurable benefits in brain health, including fewer signs of brain stress visible on MRI scans.
“Participants with insomnia who reported sleeping more than they used to had less white-matter hyperintensities,suggesting that this might have offered some protection to the damage seen in those who reported reduced sleep,” reported researcher Carvalho. “We interpreted this finding as possible remission of insomnia symptoms, which is likely to be good for the brain.”
While pharmaceutical interventions like sleeping pills and melatonin are often considered, cognitive behavioral therapy for insomnia (CBT-I) remains the mainstream recommended treatment.
The findings raise concerns about the long-term effects of sleep deprivation, notably given the increasing prevalence of factors disrupting natural sleep cycles. These include daylight saving time changes and the widespread use of electronic devices emitting blue light, such as smartphones and tablets. Researchers have even identified “nomophobia”-the fear of being without a smartphone-and linked it to insomnia, stemming from late-night phone use or anxiety about phone access.
Conversely, devices utilizing e-ink technology, like Amazon Kindles and Rakuten Kobos, which do not emit blue light and offer nighttime modes, may be less disruptive to sleep.
