Getting enough sleep has long been considered an important factor for health. However, scientists believe that not only sleep time but also sleep quality significantly affects brain health.
According to research published in the journal JAMA Neurology, people over 60 years old are at higher risk of dementia if the amount of slow-wave sleep decreases over time.
Slow-wave sleep is the deepest sleep phase in the sleep cycle. During this time, brain activity, heart rate and blood pressure all decrease, helping the body recover and strengthen memory.
The research team led by neuroscientist Matthew Pase of Monash University (Australia) analyzed data from 346 participants in the Framingham Heart Study in the US. These people were monitored for sleep and health status for many years.
The results show that for every 1% of slow-wave sleep lost each year, the risk of dementia increases by about 27%. For Alzheimer's disease, the risk increases by about 32%.
Scientists believe that deep sleep can help the brain eliminate metabolic waste, including proteins related to Alzheimer's disease. This is considered one of the important mechanisms to protect the brain from the aging process.
However, the research team also emphasized that this result only shows the link between deep sleep and the risk of dementia, and cannot confirm that lack of slow-wave sleep is the direct cause of the disease.
However, experts believe that maintaining quality sleep, especially deep sleep, is still one of the important measures to help protect brain health as age increases.
