Sleep Duration and Dementia Risk: 7 Hours Protects Your Brain Long-Term
Does Sleep Duration in Midlife Affect Dementia Risk Decades Later?
Yes, and the connection is stronger than most people realize. This groundbreaking 25-year study of nearly 8,000 adults found that sleeping 6 hours or less per night during midlife increases dementia risk by 30% compared to sleeping 7 hours. The protective effect of adequate sleep appears to compound over decades, making your sleep habits in your 50s and 60s crucial for brain health in your 70s and 80s.