In Case You Haven't Heard…

Abstract

Can insomnia hurt brain health? Addressing insomnia could help against brain aging in the future, according to new research, CNN reported. Unlike genetic and other factors that go into cognitive health that are not under your control, insomnia may be one condition you can do something about, according to a study published Oct. 1 in Neurology. “The main takeaway for this study is that chronic insomnia may be a modifiable risk factor for cognitive decline,” said lead study author Dr. Diego Carvalho, assistant professor of neurology and sleep specialist at the Mayo Clinic Center for Sleep Medicine in Rochester, Minn. For this research, 2,750 people underwent about five years of annual neurological assessments and brain imaging along with evaluations of sleep habits to investigate the association between insomnia and brain changes. Insomnia was found to be linked to a 40% increased risk of cognitive impairment. People who had insomnia but increased their sleep time or utilized medication did not experience the same detriment to their cognitive health. “We can't say for sure that treating insomnia will necessarily reduce those risks, because we lack that data … but I think there is a growing interest in that potential venue,” Carvalho said.