People With Insomnia at Greater Risk of Cognitive Problems Later, Study Finds

According to a new study, people with insomnia in the middle of their lives are more likely to develop cognitive problems later in life.

The cognitive problems include issues with memory, concentration, and learning ability, and the longer the insomnia lasts for, the worse these brain functions are likely to be as the years roll on, whereas if insomnia symptoms ease, cognitive function tends to stay healthier in later.

A decent amount of sleep is important for our mental and physical health. There are few studies that cover the length of time that this one does, with follow-up surveys taking place between 15-17 years after the original assessments of participants took place.

At the time of follow-up, participants who were in mid-life and employed at the outset of the study had retired because they had reached the age of statutory retirement.

Insomnia symptoms can increase the risk of cognitive decline in retirement age, according to researchers from the University of Helsinki.

The analysis showed that more severe problems in subjective cognitive function were related to increased sleeping complaints.

The reasons for the connection are not explained in the study. The waste-clearing system that operates in the brain during sleep could have an impact on cognitive function in the long term in people who sleep poorly.

The researchers took into account other health factors that are linked to cognitive decline in old age. They include high blood pressure, high cholesterol, Obesity, Diabetes, and a low level of physical activity.

Picking up on insomnia and treating it earlier could potentially stave off brain health issues and even diseases such as Alzheimer's later on in life.

We don't know if insomnia is causing the increased risk of cognitive decline, but the association seen warrants future investigation.

The researchers say that early detection of insomnia symptoms could be an intervention point to improve sleep quality and prevent cognitive decline in later life.

These actions might save public funds and improve one's wellbeing, adding quality-of-life years in the context of aging.

The team points out that there are many ways to improve the quality of our sleep, including getting into a more regular sleep rhythm, making sure our sleep environment is well managed, and checking our eating and drinking habits.

There are some limitations to be aware of. The data is based on how aware participants were of their condition and how honest they were about it. Only the second survey asked about cognitive issues.

There is enough evidence in the results to suggest an association that could be useful for future studies and health assessments. It appears that insomnia has both long- and short-term effects on the brain.

Tea Lallukka, a medical sociologist at the University of Helsinki, says that it would be interesting to shed further light on whether the treatment of insomnia can also slow down the development of memory disorders.

The Journal of Aging and Health has published the research.