Is Your Brain Aging Too Fast?

Yesterday, I warned you about how antibiotics can trigger brain inflammation, which can lead to Alzheimer’s.

(If you missed that issue, CLICK HERE to catch up.)

But today, I have another warning for your brain health…

It turns out that a common issue that many older folks face could accelerate brain aging and cognitive decline.

Researchers recruited 589 volunteers in their 40s for a study. They were divided into three groups based on the quality of their sleep (low, middle, and high).

Fifteen years after the study began, participants underwent brain scans to determine brain size, and machine learning determined their brain age.

Ultimately, sleep problems (like poor quality sleep and difficulty falling or staying asleep) were linked to faster brain aging.

Compared to those with the highest quality sleep, those in the middle group had an average brain age that was 1.6 years older.

And those with the worst sleep had brains that were 2.6 years older.

This was especially true for the volunteers who had consistent sleep issues over five years.

Having an “older” brain means that your brain is aging faster than your chronological age. This accelerated aging is linked to cognitive issues like Alzheimer’s, dementia, and even an increased risk of death.

The study highlights that poor sleep isn’t just a problem NOW… it could lead to serious health problems in the future.

Now, it’s true that studies like this show correlation—and not direct cause and effect. So, we have more to learn.

But regardless of what future research uncovers, we already know that good sleep is critical for good health.

The best way to prioritize your sleep is to fix your sleep environment. Avoid blue lights at night (TV, phone, computer), go to sleep at a consistent time, sleep in a cool, dark room, and set your circadian rhythm by spending time in the sun at sunrise.

P.S. This daily AM ritual delivers better sleep at night.

SOURCE:

Clémence Cavaillès, PhD, Christina Dintica, PhD, Mohamad Habes, PhD, et al., Association of Self-Reported Sleep Characteristics with Neuroimaging Markers of Brain Aging Years Later in Middle-Aged Adults, Neurology, November 26, 2024, issue 103 (10)