According to a new longitudinal study conducted with almost 8,000 British adults followed for more than 25 years, sleeping six hours or less per night in their 50s and 60s is associated with an increased risk of dementia.

There was also a 30 percent increased risk of dementia in those with consistently short sleep patterns from age 50 to 70, regardless of cardiometabolic or mental health problems, which are known risk factors for dementia.

Correlation, not causation

The authors of the study from the French national health research institute INSERM analyzed data from a long-term study conducted by University College London, which has followed the health of 7,959 British individuals since 1985.

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The participants self-reported their sleep duration, while around 3,900 of them also wore watch devices during the night to confirm their estimates.

However, as the researchers themselves clarify, We are dealing with a correlation, not a causality..

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Additionally, while time spent sleeping is related to dementia risk in older adults, ages 65 and older, it is unclear whether this association is also true for younger age groups.

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Sleeping six hours or less per night between ages 50 and 60 is associated with increased risk of dementia

was originally published in

Xataka Science

by
Sergio Parra

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