Study Links Poor Sleep to Accelerated Brain Aging in Adults

A study involving more than 23,000 adults and elderly participants found that irregular sleep patterns may accelerate brain aging and increase dementia risk. Researchers examined sleep habits alongside brain scans and survey data, evaluating factors including daily sleep duration, daytime napping, insomnia, daytime drowsiness and snoring. The findings, published this week, showed that all five sleep behaviors were associated with accelerated brain aging to varying degrees. The strongest connections with white matter damage appeared in individuals who slept less or more than the recommended seven to nine hours, those who excessively napped during the day and people experiencing chronic insomnia. Lead researcher Madeleine Alley noted that sleep serves essential functions, including repairing nerve cells, regulating memory and clearing waste that accumulates in the brain. Expert Samir Fahmi suggested that maintaining a consistent wake time, getting morning sunlight, engaging in regular physical activity and following a calm pre-sleep routine may help improve sleep quality.