Is This “Stealth Disease” Shrinking Your Brain?

Is the greatest threat to your brain… a health condition you’ve never been diagnosed with?

Believe it or not, it’s true.

If you’ve ever cared for a loved one with Alzheimer’s, it can feel like their brain is slowly decaying from the inside.

And, actually, that’s precisely what’s happening.

One of the telltale signs of Alzheimer’s is that the brain begins to shrink – by about 3% a year, and even more in memory centers like the hippocampus.

Now, researchers from Johns Hopkins University have discovered a major risk factor that determines whose brains will shrink – and whose won’t.

It all comes down to a health problem that most doctors never talk about… or even look for.

But fixing this health issue may be the single most important thing you can do the protect your brain as you age.

For this latest research, Johns Hopkins scientists studied 344 seniors, and watched how their brains changed over time.

Those who had irregular sleep and activity patterns experienced faster shrinkage in key brain areas, like the hippocampus.

In other words, having a disrupted or unhealthy circadian rhythm drives faster brain aging, and can lead to some of the markers we associate with Alzheimer’s.

Now, I’m sure I talk about circadian rhythm more than any doctor you’ve ever met – and with good reason. It has an enormous effect on our health.

Most folks think of circadian rhythm as controlling our sleep/wake cycles – and that’s certainly true. But your circadian rhythm is also responsible for countless other processes in your body, including many that influence brain health.

Your circadian rhythm helps coordinate essential repair and waste-removal processes in your brain. And when those processes break down, disease begins to set in.

But when was the last time a doctor talked to you about your circadian rhythm – or your sleep patterns at all?

It’s a major blind spot in modern medicine. But for the sake of your brain – and overall health – you need to take your circadian rhythm seriously.

Luckily, there are a few simple steps you can take, starting today, to reset your circadian rhythm and keep it healthy.

Step 1: Get sun exposure in your eyes first thing every morning, no glasses or contact lenses. You don’t have to look directly into the sun – just keep it in your peripheral vision. This helps set your circadian rhythm for the day.

Step 2: Eliminate all exposure to screens (like TVs, cell phones, or laptops) at least 60-90 minutes before bedtime. The artificial blue light from these screens suppresses melatonin, a key hormone you need to sleep.

Step 3: Keep a consistent bedtime every night, including on weekends.

These few simple steps will have you sleeping better and feeling more refreshed – and you just may end up saving your brain in the bargain.