Irregular and disorganized sleep patterns may substantially raise the likelihood of dementia in later life, according to recent research by the American Academy of Neurology. The study whose findings have been published in the Neurology journal indicates that individuals with inconsistent sleep schedules face a 53% higher risk of developing dementia compared to those maintaining consistent sleep habits.
The team highlighted the importance of sleep regularity, which is defined as the consistency in daily sleep and wake times. While sleep health recommendations typically emphasize achieving the recommended seven to nine hours of sleep per night, Associate Professor Matthew Paul Pase from Monash University underscores the significance of maintaining regular sleep schedules. The research findings indicate that the consistency of sleep patterns plays a crucial role in assessing an individual’s risk of dementia.
The study involved a cohort of 88,094 individuals residing in the United Kingdom, exhibiting an average age of 62, and spanning a duration of seven years. Participants were equipped with wrist devices for a week to monitor their sleep patterns. The collected data facilitated the computation of a sleep regularity index, where individuals adhering to consistent daily sleep and wake times would attain a perfect score of 100, while those with fluctuating patterns would register a score of zero.
Upon scrutinizing the medical records, the researchers identified 480 participants who subsequently developed dementia. Notably, individuals with the most erratic sleep patterns faced a heightened risk. The outcomes indicated that this particular group exhibited a likelihood of more than 50 percent greater than those with merely average sleep regularity in developing dementia.
Enhancing sleep health awareness in conjunction with behavioral interventions has the potential to enhance disrupted sleep routines. According to the research, individuals experiencing irregular sleep may simply need to enhance their sleep consistency to moderate levels, as opposed to exceedingly high levels, to mitigate the risk of dementia. Prof. Pase asserts that further investigations are required to validate their conclusions.