A new study has found that not getting enough deep sleep may increase the risk of Alzheimer's disease.
According to CNN, the research team noted that spending insufficient time in the two deep sleep stages—slow-wave sleep and rapid eye movement (REM) sleep—could accelerate the deterioration of brain areas associated with Alzheimer's disease.
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The study involved 270 participants, with their sleep data analyzed, specifically focusing on the amount of time they spent in slow-wave sleep and REM sleep. The team then compared these sleep cycles to MRI brain scans conducted 13 to 17 years later.
The results showed that less time spent in these sleep stages was linked to a noticeable reduction in the size of an area of the brain, known as the inferior parietal region, which is associated with cognitive decline and Alzheimer's disease.
The lead researcher of the study, Gaowen Zhou, an associate researcher in internal medicine at Yale School of Medicine, said, "We found that the size of the inferior parietal region shrank in individuals who spent little time in slow-wave sleep and REM sleep."
He added, "This part of the brain integrates sensory information, including spatial visual information, so it makes sense that neurodegeneration occurs early in the disease."
During deep sleep, the brain clears out toxins and dead cells.
Adults need about seven to eight hours of sleep to maintain good health, while teenagers and young children require much more sleep.
Experts say that most adults should spend 20 to 25 percent of their night in deep sleep. Older adults need less, while children require significantly more. In fact, infants can spend up to 50 percent of their sleep in REM sleep.
The study team noted that people can easily train their brains to sleep better by going to bed and waking up at the same time every day, even on weekends and holidays, and ensuring that their sleep environment is optimal. The cooler and darker the room, the better.
A 2023 study found that good sleep habits added nearly five years to the life expectancy of men and almost two and a half years to the life expectancy of women.
