Even when you're well, you may have difficulties sleeping. However, insomnia might be an indication of dementia. Symptoms of Alzheimer's disease, the most prevalent kind of dementia, may appear years before you are diagnosed.

Experts are divided on which should come first. Sleep problems and dementia are most likely linked.

Symptoms of Sleep Deprivation

Sleep is essential at any age. Experts believe that while you sleep, your brain eliminates unnecessary items. Plaque-like compounds form when you don't get enough sleep. Sleep also aids memory retention and learning. And studies suggest that if you don't get enough sleep, you're more likely to have trouble accomplishing those tasks.

If you or a loved one suffers from:

• Have problems slept?
• During the day, take a nap
• Frequently wake up at night
• Stop sleeping too early.
• In the evening, become agitated (known as sundowning)

Dementia and Sleep Disorders

Dementia is linked to certain common sleep disturbances.

Insomnia. Elements of your brain alter when you don't get enough sleep. Alzheimer's disease is linked to several of these locations.

Primary insomnia has also been linked to a higher risk of dementia diagnosis, according to a study. That is if your sleeplessness isn't due to something else, such as depression or drug usage.

If you have primary insomnia and are under the age of 40, your chances of developing Alzheimer's disease increase.

Sleep apnea with obstruction (OSA). If you have this, you may be more likely to develop dementia. It's when your throat muscles relax as you sleep. Your brain can't receive enough air if you can't breathe adequately at night. That's what hypoxia means. If you awake to struggle to breathe, you'll have a restless night.

If you already have these things, you may experience:

• Staying focused issues
• Having difficulty making judgments
• Slower motor movements can impact actions such as performing tasks and writing.
• Developing dementia at a younger age than usual
• More serious brain problems
• Stroke, diabetes, as well as high blood pressure are examples of other health problems.

Circadian rhythm disturbances The sleep-wake cycle of dementia sufferers may change. This implies they'll be tired throughout the day and alert at night.

A REM sleep disorder (RBD). During REM sleep, your muscles are normally immobilized. RBD, on the other hand, makes your muscles move. This may cause you to wake awake. If you have Parkinson's disease or neurodegenerative, the second most prevalent kind of dementia after Alzheimer's disease, you're more likely to get RBD.

Dementia and Sleep Time

When it comes to sleep duration and cognitive deterioration, there looks to be a U-shaped curve. That implies that if you rest too little or too much, difficulties will arise. A lack of sleep, on the other hand, seems to be more likely to increase your odds.

According to studies, sleep time with dementia are linked:

Sleep deprivation (less than 7 hours). According to studies, one night of severe sleep deprivation elevates beta-amyloid and tau levels. These are Alzheimer's disease-linked proteins. Insomnia can also interfere with slow-wave sleep, which would be important for learning and memory.

Long slumber (more than 8 hours). It's unclear why sleeping too much increases your risk of dementia. If you have an additional health problem, such as sleep apnea or depression, your body may require more sleep to function properly.