Sleep patterns linked to increased Alzheimer’s and dementia risk

Recent research suggests a potential link between excessive sleep patterns and an increased risk of Alzheimer’s disease and dementia. A study from UT Health San Antonio, utilizing data from the Framingham Heart Study, found that older adults who regularly sleep more than eight and a half hours per night tend to have higher levels of p-tau181, a blood protein considered a strong marker for Alzheimer’s disease. The association was most pronounced in individuals sleeping ten hours or longer.

Researchers noted that long sleep duration might not be a direct cause of brain damage, but rather a symptom of early neurological changes that increase the need for sleep.

In a separate analysis published in the journal Neurology, researchers examined adults aged 65 and older to identify precursors to dementia, such as motoric cognitive risk syndrome (MCR). The study found that 35 percent of participants experiencing extreme daytime sleepiness developed MCR, compared to only 6.7 percent of those without excessive sleepiness. MCR is characterized by slow walking and cognitive difficulties, including memory and thinking issues.