Dementia risk doubles for sleepy older women

WOMEN in their 80s who feel sleepy during the day are at double the risk of dementia, researchers have found.

- By Stephen Beech

The study, published by the journal Neurology, does not prove that daytime sleepiness causes the devastating condition but it does show an association, they add.

Lead researcher Dr Yue Leng said: “Sleep is essential for cognitive health as it allows the brain to rest and rejuvenate, enhancing our ability to think clearly and remember information.

“However, little is known about how changes in sleep and cognition are connected over time and how these changes relate to dementia risk in the later decades of life.

“Our study found that sleep problems may be intertwined with cognitive ageing and may serve as an early marker or risk factor for dementia in women in their 80s.”