Lack of sleep related to Alzheimer's disease

New research has prompted the claim that sleep deprivation is treated as a public health crisis because it is badociated with an increased risk of developing Alzheimer's disease.

The researchers warn that this could lead to a public health crisis and deserves as much attention as the obesity epidemic.

David Holtzman, a professor of neurology at the University of Washington, told Tim Dower that sleep deprivation is linked to a number of diseases.

"This link with different diseases, both outside the brain and inside the brain … is a real problem that tells us that we need to change our way of life."

"We know that in diseases like Alzheimer's disease, proteins accumulate in the brain and that lack of sleep is causing an increase in the accumulation and spread of Alzheimer's disease. one of these proteins in the brain. "

Holtzman said that with the increase in average lifespan, Alzheimer's disease has become a problem.

"What you do not want to do is find yourself in a situation where you can not enjoy the rest of your life, which is why sleep is so important."

He said that deep sleep is really important for staying healthy.

"We have not yet tried to find out what could protect us from this, but we can badume that a better deep sleep (slow wave sleep) is one of the ways to reduce the risk to contract this problem. "

Holtzman said that people have to change their way of life in order to get enough sleep.

"One of the major problems is that people have to try to have a regular schedule to go to bed and wake up, and one of the ways to do that is to stay active during the day, to exercise, all this quickly. have a regular schedule. "

Technology also has a negative impact on people's sleep, he said.

"It's probably not good to have your TV in your bedroom at night when you go to bed, it's more light and another reason not to stay awake any longer."

"Make sure the lights in your room where you sleep are off and there is no light infiltration."

"Try not to be constantly in front of a computer, especially at the time just before going to bed."

Older people need less sleep than younger people.