Can’t Sleep? You MUST Read This.

The Alzheimer’s epidemic is at an all-time high.

Nursing homes are filling up, and the disease shows no signs of slowing down.

Scientists and drug companies are scrambling to find a cure. Until that happens, the best action you can take is prevention.

I’ve told you before that lack of sleep can increase your risk of Alzheimer’s. 

But a recent study showed that sleep plays a bigger role than anyone could have imagined.

One of the defining characteristics of Alzheimer’s disease is the buildup of a protein called beta amyloid in your brain.

These sticky substances clump together, where they interfere with signals that nerve cells send to one another—one of the primary reasons for the memory and cognitive problems associated with the disease.

Here’s the alarming part:

Just one sleepless night can dramatically increase the amount of beta amyloid in the brain.

Just ONE!

Sleep acts as a type of reboot for your body. Every night while you’re sleeping, systems turn on that sweep the brain clear of waste products like beta amyloid plaque.

That’s just one of the many reasons why getting good, sound sleep is so critical for overall health and wellbeing. Without it, you’re not giving your body the time it needs to clear out the gunk.

For this study, published in the Annals of Neurology, researchers evaluated a group of individuals who had no issues with sleep or memory. One group got a good night’s rest, while the other stayed up all night.

To test the amount of amyloid beta in their brains, the researchers took samples of cerebrospinal fluid at the beginning of the night, and then again the next day.

The results were shocking. The group who didn’t sleep had a 25-30% increase in amyloid beta proteins! Again…after just ONE night!

The good news is that these increases likely aren’t permanent. Getting good, restorative, waste-removing sleep is likely to clear out all the gunk.

But this study goes to show you just how critical sleep is for overall health and wellness. And I have just the thing that can help with that.

The key is following your body’s natural circadian rhythm, and it couldn’t be easier.

First, be sure to get plenty of outdoor sun exposure every morning, which sets your circadian rhythm for the day.

Second, limit your exposure to blue light in the evenings, which is one of the primary factors in disrupting your circadian rhythm.

I personally use Uvex Blue-Blocking Safety Glasses, which you can get on Amazon. I also recommend placing blue-blocking screens over your TV and computer.

To a brighter day,

Dr. Richard Gerhauser, M.D.