Sleep Loss Linked to Decline in Brain Volume

According to a recent study published in the journal Neurology, sleep difficulties may be linked to faster rates of decline in brain volume. The study included 147 adults between the ages of 20 and 84, and researchers examined the link between sleep difficulties such as having trouble falling asleep or staying asleep at night, and brain volume. All participants underwent two MRI brain scans an average of 3.5 years apart, before completing a questionnaire about their sleep habits. A total of 35 percent of the participants met the criteria for poor sleep quality, scoring an average of 8.5 out of 21 points on the sleep assessment, which looked at how long people slept, how long it took them to fall asleep at night, use of sleep medications and other factors. The results showed that sleep difficulties were linked with a more rapid decline in brain volume over the course of the study in widespread brain regions, including within frontal, temporal and parietal areas. “It is not yet known whether poor sleep quality is a cause or consequence of changes in brain structure,” said the study’s author. To read more about this study, click here.