Poor sleep doesn’t just make you feel tired and irritable; it can have long-term effects on your brain health, including an increased risk of dementia.
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Understanding the connection between sleep and cognitive function can help you take steps to protect your brain as you age.
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Here's how poor sleep affects your risk of developing dementia.
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Sleep is crucial for brain health. During sleep, your brain clears out toxins, including beta-amyloid, a protein associated with Alzheimer's disease. Poor sleep can lead to a buildup of these toxins.
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Sleep helps consolidate memories. Without adequate sleep, memory formation and recall can be impaired, which is a key symptom of dementia.
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Chronic sleep deprivation can lead to inflammation, which has been linked to neurodegenerative diseases like dementia.
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Long-term sleep deprivation can accelerate cognitive decline. Studies have shown that people who consistently get poor sleep are at higher risk of cognitive impairment and dementia.
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Poor sleep affects mood and mental health, leading to conditions like depression and anxiety, which are associated with an increased risk of dementia.
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