Teri Sellers
The PebbleCreek Alzheimer’s Support Group is available to all residents who have a loved one with Alzheimer’s or dementia. The group meets twice a month for a breakfast social and a support group meeting. Our goal is to provide support and information to families that are caring for a loved one with dementia.
Quality sleep is known to play an important role in concentration and learning, as well as mood and overall health. We all want and need a good night’s sleep. There are a lot of good reasons, including the National Institutes of Health research that showed that people in their 50s and 60s who slept six hours or less per night were at a greater risk of developing dementia later in life.
Changes in sleep patterns are common in people with Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias. They may wake up often during the night and find it hard to get back to sleep. These sleep problems are thought to result from brain changes caused by the disease that affect the sleep-wake cycle.
Studies have suggested that sleep patterns earlier in life may contribute to later dementia risk. Both insufficient sleep and sleeping longer than average have been linked to a greater likelihood of developing dementia. However, it has been hard to determine whether these sleep changes contribute to the disease or simply reflect early symptoms.
The findings of these studies, which were published in April 2021, suggest that short sleep durations could increase the risk of developing dementia later in life. More research is needed to confirm this connection and understand the underlying reasons.
According to the Alzheimer’s Association, many people with Alzheimer’s experience changes in their sleep patterns. Scientists do not completely understand why this happens. As with changes in memory and behavior, sleep changes somehow result from the impact of Alzheimer’s on the brain.
Many older adults without dementia also notice changes in their sleep, but these disturbances occur more frequently and tend to be more severe with Alzheimer’s. There is evidence that sleep changes are more common in later stages of the disease, but some studies have also found them in early stages.
If you are finding that poor sleep is affecting you or a loved one, the first step should be to consult our doctor. Sleep is more important to your overall health than you think.
You are not alone. I want to share helpful resources and information with you and add you to our email list. Our support group is an excellent way to learn more about the journey that is dementia and a wonderful way to meet others who are going through the same journey. Your information is always safe and confidential, and the benefits are priceless. I can be reached at 602-793-0299 or [email protected].