Early bedtime & prolonged sleep can trigger dementia

The majority of people who suffer from dementia, a neurodegenerative disorder, are found in China. One in 20 people aged 60 or older, or at least 6% of older adults, have dementia, according to a reliable source. However, Caucasian populations in North America and Europe have been the subject of the majority of studies on sleep and cognitive impairment. A recent population-based study of senior citizens in rural China found a link between excessive sleep and an early bedtime and a higher risk of dementia. The study also discovered that early bedtimes and prolonged sleep were linked to some degree of cognitive decline, even in those who did not experience dementia during the study period. But only men and older individuals between the ages of 60 and 74 showed this particular finding. Sleep & dementia risks “It is important for studies to evaluate populations other than white (Caucasian), largely urban populations from North America or Western Europe. This study evaluates rural adults from China […] with unique socioeconomic, cultural, education and lifestyle practices,” Dr. Porter said. Older adults in rural China typically go to sleep earlier, rise earlier, and have lower quality sleep than their white counterparts or people in urban areas. How Studying Over 8 Hours Can Trigger Risk During the study's average follow-up duration of 3.7 years, dementia was found in 97 of the 1,982 patients. At baseline, the participants' average age was 70.05. 83% of the sample's participants were aged 60 to 74, and 38.2% had no formal education. Women made up 59.6% of the sample. When compared to those who slept 7-8 hours, the risk of dementia was 69% higher for those who slept over 8 hours. Additionally, the risk was doubled for those who went to bed before 9:00 p.m. instead of 10:00 p.m. or later. Baseline lengthy TIB, early bedtime and mid-sleep time, and early and late rise time measures were "significantly linked" with a higher reduction in cognitive deterioration, as shown by MMSE scores among those who did not develop dementia during the trial.