Researchers worldwide are continually working to unravel the complexities of the human brain. Recently, a study has explored a potential factor contributing to brain shrinkage.
Don’t be alarmed, though; brain shrinkage is a natural part of the aging process and not a cause for concern.
Brain atrophy, characterized by the degeneration of cells, typically begins in the 30s and 40s. However, it can be more significant in cases involving dementia and conditions such as traumatic brain injury or strokes. Recent research has identified a common habit that may be associated with brain shrinkage.
A 2024 sleep study conducted by the University of California San Francisco suggests that sleeping difficulties might contribute to brain atrophy.
The study, published in Neurology, was explained in a university press release: “To estimate the effects of sleep quality on the brain, the researchers surveyed approximately 600 adults on how well they slept.
“The participants were asked the same questions five years later and underwent brain scans 10 years after this.
“They found that even after adjusting for age, sex, education, health and lifestyle factors, the brains of those participants who slept poorly were more atrophied than those who slept well.
“Compared to the 70 percent of the sample who reported having little trouble sleeping, those with moderate difficulty (22 percent) had brains that were 1.6 years older, while those with the most difficulty (8 percent) had brains that were 2.6 years older.”
Although a link has been established, previous research has yielded similar findings and emphasized the need for further investigation.
More research is needed because it’s still unclear whether sleep issues cause brain shrinkage or if shrinking brains lead to sleep problems.
Clémence Cavaillès, PhD, from the UCSF Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, provided insights on the study’s conclusions.
She stated: “While we can’t say that poor sleep causes dementia, earlier research has established an association.
“Even if the cause of dementia is unrelated to sleep, it’s possible that poor sleep may advance or exacerbate cognitive symptoms.”
Kristine Yaffe, MD, from the UCSF departments of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Neurology, and Epidemiology and Biostatistics, also underscored the importance of sleep quality and suggested that emphasizing good sleep habits from an early age could help prevent potential brain decline.