We all know that having a good night’s sleep is one of the fundamental ways to take care of ourselves.
When our body repairs itself, cognitive decline is avoided, and our mental health improves.
Did you know that when it comes to sleep deprivation, we are at a higher risk for many health conditions – including heart disease and diabetes?
Not getting enough sleep is even linked to conditions such as Alzheimer’s disease.
According to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the required sleep durations per age group are:
- School-age kids (6-12 y/o): 9–12 hours per 24 hours
- Teens (13-18 y/o): 8–10 hours per 24 hours
- Adults (18-60 y/o): at least 7 hours per night
- Adults (61–64 y/o): 7–9 hours per night
- Adults (65 years and older): 7–8 hours per night
But enough of talking about too little sleep.
Well, did you know that more hours of sleep isn’t always good for you?
Why More Isn’t Always Better
An observational study was conducted among 7,444 participants over 65 years old in the Women’s Health Initiative Memory Study (WHIMS), where hours of sleep and sleep patterns were monitored.
- 802 women were identified with significant cognitive decline
- 368 with mild cognitive impairment
- 265 with dementia
- 36% increased risk of cognitive decline in women who reported sleeping six or fewer hours a night
- 35% increased risk in those who said they slept longer than eight hours.
Although this study does not necessarily establish a very clear link between sleep duration and the risk of dementia, it recommends that people with sleep problems should seek immediate help from their doctor.
On the other hand, other researchers still say that getting more than 9 hours of sleep could indicate a higher risk of dementia or any Alzheimer’s association.
According to a study of more than 5,000 Latino adults between 45 and 75 years old, too much sleep was linked to decreased memory and episodic learning.
Dr Alberto R. Ramos, research director at the University of Miami Sleep Disorders Program and a lead study author, mentioned that “insomnia and prolonged sleep duration appear to be linked to a decline in neurocognitive functioning that can precede the onset of Alzheimer’s disease.”
Sleep Quality > Sleep Duration
It’s true that there still needs more research in determining the cause and effect between sleeping too long and dementia risk among older adults. After all, only a handful of studies have been conducted.
What we can do is prioritise our sleep quality. Your sleep quality is poor if you are experiencing these risk factors:
- Not feeling rested even after getting enough sleep.
- Repeatedly wake up during the night.
- Experience symptoms of sleep disorders (such as snoring or gasping for air).
Improving sleep quality may be helped by better sleep habits or being diagnosed and treated for potential sleep disorders.
The Sweet Spot of Sleep
Some studies find that a good gauge of better sleep is by sleeping continuously through the four stages of sleep.
It’s called the “sweet spot of sleep.” So what are the four stages?
First 3 stages: Non-Rapid Eye Movement (NREM) sleep
1.) Stage NREM1 usually happens in the first 10 minutes right after falling asleep. You can be wake up easily from this light sleep.
2.) Stage NREM2 lasts from 30 – 60 minutes. Expect an overall decrease in a rhythm where your heartbeat and breathing slow down even more. Your muscles become more relaxed too.
3.) Stage NREM3 is deep sleep/delta sleep/slow-wave sleep. It lasts about 20 – 40 minutes. It is when the brain repairs the body and restoration is on a cellular level. It is hard to wake up someone at this stage.
Last stage: Rapid Eye Movement (REM) sleep
4.) REM: Rapid eye movement sleep is deeper than non-REM sleep. It’s the stage when we dream and experiences are stored in memory. During REM sleep, the eyes and eyelids flutter and breathing become irregular.
Studies show that lost REM sleep may lead to memory deficit and poor cognitive outcomes, heart and other chronic diseases and even early death.
Improving Delta and REM sleep
So what must be done? Avoid risk factors.
Avoiding any sleep disturbances is the first step in ensuring a well-rested, normal sleep.
Here are some sleep hygiene tips to help your brain health and cognitive function for a good night’s sleep:
- Develop consistent sleep patterns by sleeping early and at the same time every night.
- Avoid fatty and spicy foods right before bed.
- Avoid large meals and alcohol as it can wake you up in the middle of the night.
- Develop a relaxing bedtime routine: maybe some yoga & a warm shower a few hours before bed.
- No devices that emit blue light. The bedroom must be used for sleep and sex only for optimal sleep.
Doing the opposite of these helpful tips may consistently affect our wake cycle, which poses greater risks of experiencing memory loss, dementia, Alzheimer’s disease, and low cognitive function.
The goal is to enjoy our later years to the fullest. And clearly, better sleep is something we can control.