Evidence from research suggests that poor sleep quality speeds up brain aging and negatively impacts cognitive abilities, memory, and thinking skills.
A study conducted on individuals aged 55 and older found that those who sleep for shorter durations experience an increase in the size of brain ventricles over time, which indicates a reduction in brain cells and other components.
Poor quality sleep has been linked to problems in the brain’s frontal, temporal, and parietal regions. It has been observed that lack of good sleep leads to a decline in memory, thinking speed, decision making, and other cognitive functions.
This is why older adults with poor sleep are at a higher risk of cognitive decline. During sleep, the brain’s “glymphatic system” functions to remove excess proteins and toxins such as amyloid-beta, which are key factors in Alzheimer’s disease and other mental disorders. Poor sleep disrupts the efficiency of this system.
Although studies have not yet definitively proven that poor sleep directly causes brain decline, there is strong evidence that it is a major risk factor. Other factors such as physical health, heart disease, blood pressure, and depression may also contribute to both poor sleep and cognitive decline.
