This is how insomnia could be aging your brain
Chronic insomnia may increase dementia risk, study finds
- Research indicates that chronic insomnia, defined as trouble sleeping three days a week for three months or more, significantly increases the risk of developing dementia.
- Individuals with chronic insomnia face a 40 percent higher risk of dementia and mild cognitive impairment, equivalent to 3.5 additional years of brain aging.
- A study of 2,750 older adults revealed that those with chronic insomnia showed higher levels of white matter hyperintensities and amyloid plaques, both linked to Alzheimer's disease.
- Dr. Diego Z. Carvalho of the Mayo Clinic suggests chronic insomnia could be an early warning sign or a contributing factor to future cognitive problems, reinforcing the importance of treatment.
- While the findings do not prove causation, they highlight that chronic insomnia may affect the brain in various ways, underscoring the need to treat the condition to protect brain health as people age.