Sleep disorders as a warning signal: How to recognize early signs of dementia!

Sleep disorders as a warning signal: How to recognize early signs of dementia!

More and more people in Germany are fighting the shadow of dementia, and the latest research findings show alarming connections between sleep behavior and the risk of developing this insidious disease. A Canadian study has found that REM sleep disorders, in which those affected twitch uncontrollably during sleep, can indicate neurodegenerative diseases such as dementia up to 15 years before the actual diagnosis. This information, published by the Fulda newspaper, show the urgency of taking sleep behavior seriously as a potential warning signal.

In addition, a study from the Whitehall II study emphasizes that sleeping less than seven hours in middle age leads to a 37% increased risk of developing dementia later in life. These key findings, drawn from an analysis of over 10,000 UK civil servants, highlight the importance of maintaining a healthy sleep schedule to protect mental health as we age. However, researchers warn that getting a lot of sleep is also associated with an increased risk of dementia, suggesting that inadequate sleep quality could also be a marker for other health problems, as well SpringerLink reported.

The connection between sleep and the risk of developing dementia may be due to the role of the glymphatic system, which ensures that harmful substances are removed from the brain during sleep. A lack of adequate restful sleep could disrupt these important cleansing processes and promote the accumulation of toxic proteins linked to Alzheimer's. The research results are clear: those who sleep well not only protect their body, but also their mind from the dangers of dementia.