New research suggests that sleep quality plays a critical role in keeping the brain young.
People who sleep poorly may experience faster brain aging, while consistent, high-quality rest appears to help preserve cognitive health.
The link between sleep and brain age
A research team from the Karolinska Institutet in Sweden examined adults to better understand how sleep affects brain aging.
MRI scans reveal the brain’s biological age
The scientists used MRI scans to estimate each participant’s “brain age” and compared it to their actual chronological age.
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Poor sleep tied to older brain age
Participants with poor sleep patterns had brains that appeared, on average, one year older than their chronological age.
The effect was stronger in men
The study found that men’s brains aged faster than women’s when sleep quality was poor, a surprising discovery according to the researchers.
Over 27,000 adults took part
More than 27,000 adults from the United Kingdom participated in the study, with an average age of about 55 years.
Sleep patterns divided into three groups
Participants were categorized into groups with healthy, intermediate, or poor sleep patterns based on their survey responses about sleep duration, snoring, and daytime sleepiness.
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Inflammation plays a role
Inflammation accounted for about 10 % of the link between poor sleep and accelerated brain aging, suggesting that immune system activity may mediate the effect.
Sleep problems affect more than fatigue
Previous studies have shown that sleep disturbances can lead to mood issues, heart problems, and increased inflammation throughout the body.
Experts stress the importance of quality sleep
Sleep specialist Raj Dasgupta emphasized that poor sleep doesn’t just make you tired.
It can make your brain appear older, underscoring the importance of consistent, restorative rest.
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Small changes in brain age can add up
Even a one-year difference in brain aging can become significant over time, especially when combined with other risk factors such as hypertension, diabetes, or inactivity.
Tips for better sleep
Experts recommend sticking to a consistent sleep schedule, keeping the bedroom cool and dark, avoiding caffeine and heavy meals before bed, and incorporating relaxing routines such as reading or meditation.
Early intervention may protect the brain
Neurologist Daniel Truong advises that chronic sleep problems should not be ignored, as they may raise the risk of cognitive decline and dementia over time.
This article is based on information from Medical News Today.
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