Alzheimer’s: Another Reason to Sleep More

Research shows there is a correlation between deep sleep and Alzheimer’s risk

A person sleeping. Image provided by CNN

We have many reasons for sleeping for a long period. As the CDC has pointed out, reducing stress, improving your mood, and staying healthy are all benefits of sleeping. The risk of Alzheimer’s might be another one.

Deep Sleep and Alzheimer’s

According to the Sleep Foundation, there are four stages of sleep: N1, N2, deep sleep (slow-wave), and rapid eye movement (REM) sleep. CNN stated that the slow-wave and REM stages may accelerate the deterioration and shrinkage of parts of the brain connected with Alzheimer’s.

Gawon Cho, a postdoctoral associate in internal medicine at the Yale School of Medicine and lead study author, stated that the inferior parietal region, part of the brain that synthesizes sensory information, shrinks as people get inadequate slow/deep and REM sleep. Preventive neurologist Dr. Richard Issacson also revealed that his clinical experience of treating adults with Alzheimer’s risk supports the study, although he was not part of the team.

Sleeping

According to CNN, deep sleep allows the brain to rid itself of toxins and dead cells, repair and restore the body for the next day. While we are dreaming, the brain starts managing our emotions, consolidating memories and learning new information during REM sleep. This clearly shows how deep and REM sleep are very important for our ability to function.

Adults require seven to eight hours of sleep to stay healthy, while teens and younger children need much more. Adults should spend 20 to 25% of their night in deep sleep, while older adults require less and infants need 50% of their sleep in REM. Unfortunately, deeper stages of sleep decrease as people age, Gawon Cho said.

How can you get more deep sleep?

Since REM sleep appears more towards the morning and later in the night, those who get to bed late and get up early do not spend enough time in one or both of the deep stages of sleep. Generally, the more you stay in bed, the more deep sleep you will get. Having an uninterrupted sleep on a regular basis and feeling well rested at least five times a week after sleeping can add about five years to a man’s life expectancy and 2.5 years to a woman’s life.

Having trouble sleeping or waking up and night more than two times a week will not allow you to have enough time in deep and REM sleep. If you have these troubles, you can follow sleep hygiene, going to bed at the same time and getting up at the same time, including weekends and holidays. A cooler and darker sleeping environment, blocking noise, sound machines, avoiding booze, setting up a sleep routine, avoiding blue lights or distractions and more can help you get enough time in the deep sleep stages.