Study Reveals Sleep Patterns That Can Accelerate Brain Damage

Illustration of sleeping women (Freepic)

JAKARTA - Sleep is a break for the body and the brain. However, many do not realize that poor sleep habits can accelerate brain damage and increase the risk of degenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's. A recent study found the lack of sound sleep could accelerate the decline in brain function, which leads to cognitive impairment in the future.

According to a study conducted by researchers at the Yale School of Medicine, sound sleep, especially in the slow-wave sleep and rapid eye movement (REM) sleep stages, is very important for brain health. These two stages play a role in cleaning toxins, repairing brain cells, and strengthening cognitive memory and function.

Lead author of the study, Gawon Cho, a postdoctoral researcher in internal medicine at the Yale School of Medicine, Connecticut said people who lack sleep are experiencing shrinkages in the brain, known as the inferior parietal region.

"We found that the volume of the brain so-called parietal region inferior shrinks in people who lack slow-wave and REM sleep," Cho said, quoted by VOI from the CNN page on Friday, April 4.

"This part of the brain is responsible for processing sensory information, such as space and visual perceptions. Investigation is often an early sign of Alzheimer's disease," he added.

A preventive neuroscientist, Dr. Richard Issacson, who founded one of the first Alzheimer's prevention clinics in the United States, said his experience of caring for adults at risk of Alzheimer's in support of the findings of this study.

"The quality of sleep is deeper related to better cognitive functions. When combined with brain volume, it is true," said Isssacson.

While sleeping soundly, the brain cleans up toxins and dead cells while repairing and restoring the body for the next day. During the REM stage of sleep, the brain processes emotions, strengthens memory, and absorbs new information. No wonder slow-wave sleep and REM are very important for brain function.

Adults need about 78 hours of sleep to stay healthy, while teens and children need more. Experts advise adults to spend 20%25% of their sleep in the slow-wave and REM stages. Older people need less, while babies can spend about 50% of their sleep in the REM stage.

"What's worse, as you get older, you get less sleep," Cho said.

Slow-wave sleep usually occurs 70-90 minutes after we fall asleep, while REM sleep occurs more often in the morning. If you sleep late at night and wake up too early in the morning, you reduce the chances of getting enough time in these two stages of sleep.

"The more time in bed, the more he sleeps, and the more REMs and slow-wave sleep he gets," said Isssacson.

However, just lying in bed for longer is not enough, sleep must also be sound and not disturbed. A study in February 2023 found good sleep habits could add nearly 5 years of life expectancy for men and 2.5 years for women.

In order for this benefit to be maximized, you should not wake up frequently at night or have difficulty sleeping more than twice a week. You also have to feel fresh for at least 5 days a week while waking up, and not relying on sleeping pills.