More than 9 hours of sleep? Science says your memory may suffer
The study analyzed data from nearly 2,000 dementia-free adults aged 27 to 85, focusing on sleep duration and cognitive function. The findings indicated that participants who slept longer than nine hours exhibited decreased memory, visuospatial abilities, and executive functions.
If you've ever felt proud of clocking in over nine hours of sleep, thinking it's the ultimate health hack, recent research suggests you should reconsider. A study from the University of Texas Health Science Center reveals that excessive sleep, specifically more than nine hours per night, may be linked to poorer cognitive performance, especially in individuals experiencing symptoms of depression.
The study analyzed data from nearly 2,000 dementia-free adults aged 27 to 85, focusing on sleep duration and cognitive function. Dementia is a term for several diseases that affect memory, thinking, and the ability to perform daily activities.
Also Read: War of the Worlds? AI is growing a mind of its own, soon it will make decisions for youThe findings indicated that participants who slept longer than nine hours exhibited decreased memory, visuospatial abilities, and executive functions. These effects were more pronounced in individuals with depressive symptoms, regardless of whether they were on antidepressant medication. Vanessa Young, a clinical research project manager at the Glenn Biggs Institute for Alzheimer's and Neurodegenerative Diseases, stated that sleep could be a modifiable risk factor for cognitive decline in individuals with depression.
This research suggests that those with mental health conditions should be more serious about their sleep; they might need personalized sleep recommendations. While sleep is essential for brain health, both insufficient and excessive sleep can have detrimental effects. The Global Council on Brain Health recommends 7 to 8 hours of nightly sleep for adults to preserve cognitive function.
Also Read: 300 years after alchemy failed, CERN scientists finally turn lead into gold
It's crucial to pay attention to your sleep patterns and consult healthcare professionals if you experience persistent changes in sleep duration or quality, especially if accompanied by depressive symptoms. People who work shifts might be more vulnerable, as their sleeping cycle is often disrupted by work. Balancing sleep duration could be a key factor in maintaining cognitive health and overall well-being.
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Economic Times
2 days ago
- Economic Times
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Scullin and Jared Benge, a neuropsychologist at the University of Texas at Austin, were co-authors of a recent analysis investigating the effects of technology use on people over 50 (average age: 69). They found that those who used computers, smartphones, the internet or a mix did better on cognitive tests, with lower rates of cognitive impairment or dementia diagnoses, than those who avoided technology or used it less often. "Normally, you see a lot of variability across studies," Scullin said. But in this analysis of 57 studies involving more than 411,000 seniors, published in Nature Human Behavior, almost 90% of the studies found that technology had a protective cognitive effect. Much of the apprehension about technology and cognition arose from research on children and adolescents, whose brains are still developing. 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Even handling the constant updates, the troubleshooting and the sometimes maddening new operating systems might prove advantageous. "Having to re learn something is another positive mental challenge," he said. Still, digital technology may also protect brain health by fostering social connections, known to help stave off cognitive decline. Or its reminders and prompts could partially compensate for memory loss, as Scullin and Benge found in a smartphone study, while its apps help preserve functional abilities like shopping and banking. Numerous studies have shown that while the number of people with dementia is increasing as the population ages, the proportion of older adults who develop dementia has been falling in the United States and in several European countries. Researchers have attributed the decline to a variety of factors, including reduced smoking, higher education levels and better blood pressure treatments. 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7 days ago
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Indian Express
01-08-2025
- Indian Express
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