We all know that sleeping well can make us feel sharper and more rested. But there is some evidence to suggest that poor sleep over a long period of time can increase our risk of dementia.
One study, which followed over 10,000 UK civil servants over 25 years, found that sleeping less than six hours a night between the ages of 50 and 70 could increase your risk by up to 30%.
Another suggests that sleep disturbances over a long period may contribute to cognitive decline and an increased risk of dementia.
However, the links between sleep and dementia are extremely difficult to unravel. Scientists aren’t certain whether poor sleep increases the risk of developing the condition, or whether it’s a symptom of it.
To make things more complicated, many conditions that can increase our likelihood of developing dementia are also associated with poor sleep, including high blood pressure and heart disease.
Although it’s not yet clear exactly how sleep and dementia are linked, it’s generally accepted that getting at least seven hours of sleep a night is best.
If you’re struggling to get seven hours, don’t worry – it’s thought that negative effects are only seen after months or years of poor sleep. Sleep problems are very common, but luckily there are things you can do to help deal with them.
The NHS has lots of helpful tips for how to sleep better, including keeping regular sleep hours, and avoiding caffeine and alcohol before bed.
You can find out more about the relationship between sleep and dementia by watching our Lab Notes event, led by researchers in the field.
If you’re still concerned about the quality of your sleep, the best thing to do is contact your GP.