According to research by US scientists, sleep problems in people aged thirty to forty can lead to memory and cognitive decline in older age.
This information was published by the journal "Neurology."
The study observed more than 500 people over a period of more than ten years.
The scientists discovered that regular short interruptions in sleep in middle-aged people can lead to a decline in cognitive functions after 11 years.
"Most previous studies have examined the connection between insomnia and cognitive impairments in old age. This is the first study to prove that the relationship between sleep quality and cognitive abilities can manifest already in middle age," said the study's author.
It is also noted that sleep quality significantly decreases after the age of 40, and there are physiological reasons for this.
According to experts, with age, the production of melatonin, the hormone that regulates the sleep-wake cycle, decreases. For this reason, falling asleep takes longer, and sleep becomes lighter and less stable.
The structure of sleep also changes: the proportion of deep phases decreases, and the number of night awakenings increases. As a result, even if a person spends enough time in bed, the body recovers less effectively./oxu.az