No matter what age you are, it’s a good time to think about how to protect your brain health and lower your chances of developing dementia. One major way to accomplish that: getting good-quality sleep every night. Sleep and your brain While you’re getting your ZZZs, your brain cycles through rapid eye movement (REM) and non-REM (NREM) sleep. Each cycle turns different brain chemicals on and off, which helps your brain rest, recover and repair throughout the night. After a good night’s sleep, you feel refreshed, alert and ready to take on the day’s challenges. In other words, you have good cognitive function. But after just one or two nights of poor sleep, you might notice a reduction in your: ● Attention span. ● Alertness. ● Memory. ● Creativity. ● Judgment. ● Problem-solving skills. Long-term consequences So far, research on a possible link between sleep and brain health in humans isn’t conclusive. More and larger studies are needed to fully understand how sleep and brain health are connected. However, an increasing amount of evidence suggests that a chronic lack of adequate sleep can affect cognitive function in two significant ways: ● Alzheimer’s disease. Sleep helps your brain clear out beta-amyloid proteins, which are linked to Alzheimer’s. Sleep deprivation may increase the amount of these proteins in the brain. In people who already have Alzheimer’s, poor sleep might worsen their symptoms. ● Memory problems. REM and NREM sleep help strengthen your memories and your ability to recall information when you need it. Long-term sleep problems disturb that process. This may make it harder for you to remember facts or a logical sequence of steps. Ask your doctor how you can help keep your brain healthy—and let them know if you often have trouble getting a good night’s sleep. Sources: HelpGuide; National Institutes of Health; Sleep Foundation Dementia and sleep: A hidden link? Need help getting some ZZZs? For many people, sleep disorders are a chronic, nightly problem that lead to longlasting consequences. If you think you may have a sleep disorder, talk to your physician, who can refer you to the Missouri Sleep Institute for a sleep study. For more information, visit cmhbolivar.info/49bQdRv. citizensmemorial.com 5
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