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Trouble Falling Back To Sleep After Waking May Be Good For You – Here’s Why

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What is the reason for this recurring issue? Is it a symptom of stress or indicative of a more serious problem? Or are we needlessly creating a “health crisis” by worrying too much?

Sleep-maintenance insomnia is the medical term for the difficulty of returning to sleep after waking up.

According to studies, insomnia affects anywhere from 10 to 60 percent of the population.

Insomnia can also manifest as:

  • sleep-initiation insomnia (trouble falling asleep within 30 minutes)
  • frequent awakenings
  • spontaneous early morning awakenings

New research published in the American Journal of Preventive Medicine, by Elsevier, has identified significant links between three indicators of sleep disturbance and an increased risk of developing dementia over a 10-year timeframe.

These findings contribute to the already growing body of evidence linking sleep disturbances and cognitive impairment.

Specifically, the study associates sleep-initiation insomnia, which is characterized by difficulty falling asleep within 30 minutes, as well as the use of sleep medication, with a higher risk of developing dementia.

In addition, the researchers observed that individuals who reported experiencing sleep-maintenance insomnia, defined as difficulty falling back asleep after waking up, had a decreased likelihood of developing dementia during the study period.

It was as expected “sleep-initiation insomnia and sleep medication usage to increase dementia risk, but,” remarks lead author Roger Wong, they “were surprised to find sleep-maintenance insomnia decreased dementia risk.”

Wong shared that his personal experience with his father’s chronic sleep disturbances during the COVID-19 pandemic motivated him to investigate this topic. Upon reviewing the existing literature, Wong noted the mixed findings on the relationship between sleep and dementia, leading him to pursue further research in this area.

This study is unique in that it is the first to investigate the association between long-term sleep disturbance indicators and the risk of developing dementia using a nationally representative sample of older adults in the United States.

Previous studies have linked cognitive decline with REM sleep behavior, sleep deprivation (less than five hours of sleep), and the use of short-acting benzodiazepines. Additionally, the findings on sleep-maintenance insomnia align with recent research conducted on smaller, distinct data samples.

The research utilized data from 10 annual waves spanning from 2011 to 2020, obtained from the National Health and Aging Trends Study (NHATS). NHATS is a longitudinal panel study that surveys a nationally representative sample of Medicare beneficiaries aged 65 years and older in the United States. The study specifically targeted individuals who did not have dementia at the beginning of the study in 2011.

As there is currently no cure for dementia, preventive measures are crucial in addressing this condition.

Co-investigator Margaret Anne Lovier says by identifying variations in sleep disturbances and their relationship with dementia risk, this research can contribute to developing lifestyle changes that can potentially reduce the likelihood of developing dementia.

“By focusing on the variations in sleep disturbances,” adds Co-investigator Margaret Anne Lovier, the findings of the study “can help to inform lifestyle changes that can reduce dementia risk.”

The underlying mechanism responsible for the reduced risk of developing dementia in individuals with sleep-maintenance insomnia is not yet clear, and the researchers have put forth a theory that increased engagement in activities that help to maintain or improve cognitive reserve could play a role.

Recent research has revealed a higher incidence of sleep disturbances in older adults when compared to other age groups. This could be due to several reasons, such as anxiety related to the COVID-19 pandemic or warmer nights caused by climate change.

Dr. Wong emphasized the need for further investigation into the causes and impacts of sleep disturbances among older adults, as they can stem from a range of issues.

The study’s results underscore the significance of accounting for sleep disturbance history when evaluating dementia risk in older adults.

Future research could explore other sleep disturbance measures using a nationally representative longitudinal sample, determine if these findings on sleep and dementia apply to specific subtypes of dementia, and examine how specific sociodemographic characteristics may interact with sleep disturbances to affect dementia risk.

Image Credit: Getty

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