NEW research published has shown that poor sleep quality in early middle age may be associated with signs of accelerated brain ageing later in life. The team behind the study used MRI scans to reveal that those with disrupted sleep in their 40s showed signs of older brain age compared to those with healthier sleep patterns.
The findings do not prove that poor sleep directly causes brain ageing, but they suggest a link between sleep disturbances and brain health. “Sleep problems have been linked in previous research to poor thinking and memory skills later in life, putting people at higher risk for dementia,” said the authors. “Our study suggests that poor sleep is linked to nearly three years of additional brain ageing as early as middle age.”
The research team conducted the study with 589 participants, averageing 40 years old, tracking six sleep disturbances: short sleep duration, poor sleep quality, difficulty falling asleep, difficulty staying asleep, early morning awakening, and daytime sleepiness. Participants were divided into three groups based on the number of sleep issues they experienced.
Fifteen years later, brain MRI exams showed that those with more sleep problems exhibited greater brain shrinkage, indicating faster ageing. Participants in the middle sleep disturbance group had brains that appeared 1.6 years older on average, while those in the high group showed an average of 2.6 years of accelerated brain ageing.
“Addressing sleep problems earlier in life may help preserve brain health,” commented the study authors emphasising the importance of a consistent sleep schedule, exercise, and relaxation techniques to improve sleep quality. The researchers stressed the need for further studies on how sleep impacts brain health in younger individuals.
This research could pave the way for future interventions aimed at improving sleep to reduce the risk of neurocognitive decline and conditions such as Alzheimer’s disease.
Victoria Antoniou, EMJ
Reference
Cavailles C et al. Association of self-reported sleep characteristics with neuroimaging markers of brain aging years later in middle-aged adults. Neurology. 2024;103(10):e209988.
