Excessive Sleep Tied to Higher Dementia and Stroke Risks in Brazil

A meta‑analysis from York University in Canada found that Brazilian adults who regularly sleep more than eight hours have a 28% greater chance of developing dementia compared with those who sleep seven to eight hours. Neurology professor Alan Eckeli of the USP Faculty of Medicine in Ribeirão Preto cautioned that prolonged sleep may signal underlying conditions such as neurodegenerative disease, depression, sleep apnea or cardiovascular problems.

A separate study published in *Neurology* linked poor sleep quality, including insomnia, snoring and sleep apnea, to a markedly increased risk of cerebrovascular accidents. Neurosurgeon Victor Hugo Espíndola reported that individuals sleeping fewer than five hours faced a three‑fold higher stroke risk, while those sleeping over nine hours had double the risk. The presence of multiple sleep disorders could raise stroke odds by up to five times. Both experts stress regular sleep schedules, a conducive sleep environment, and medical evaluation of sleep disturbances as essential preventive measures.