Brain function can be improved by eating well and exercising, but a new study suggests that sleep does more wonders for the brain than we may have previously known. How much sleep you get could have an impact on whether or not you develop Alzheimer’s disease.
The research comes from the John Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. Researchers analyzed the sleep patterns of a group of adults over the age of 70 and found that those who slept for shorter amounts of time and had poorer sleep quality had higher levels of beta amyloid, a brain plaque that is an indicator of Alzheimer’s. It doesn’t mean that if you don’t get enough sleep, you will definitely get Alzheimer’s, but there is no denying a link between the two.
The findings are important because sleep disturbances can be treated in older people. While poor sleep promotes the development of Alzheimer’s disease, treatment for poor sleep or efforts to maintain healthy sleep patterns may help prevent or slow the progression of Alzheimer’s.
Researchers aren’t completely certain if sleep can prevent Alzheimer’s, but the study is a significant confirmation of the association between poor sleep and increased amyloid in the brain.
As researchers continue to explore the association, you should do what you can to help keep your brain healthy when it comes to sleep. If you have problems sleeping, try to avoid sleep medications, instead try these tips first:
-Cut out caffeine, lower protein intake toward the end of the day and avoid foods that disrupt sleep.
-Go easy on alcohol. Try not to drink it 3 hours before your bedtime.
-Exercise during the day. Regular physical activity can lead to better sleep at night.
-Yawn and stretch. Add this step to your bedtime routine: About a half-hour before bedtime, open your mouth to simulate a big yawn. Reach out your arms and give them a good stretch. At first, you’re just going through the motions. But do this four times—a big yawn and a stretch each time. You’ll soon trigger a genuine yawn and a deep-muscle stretch. Then notice what this does to the quality of the sleep that follows.
It doesn’t matter if you try to sleep better to prevent disease or to promote positive health changes, what matters is that you the proper amount of quality sleep you need every night. The results benefit you just the same!
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