HealthOnTrack

Many people don’t know that a disrupted sleep pattern can severely confuse your brain in the long run. A study has found that disrupted sleep can ultimately lead to Alzheimer’s disease – the most common form of dementia – later in life.

A severe lack of sleep or even a disordered sleep pattern has side-effects that may not immediately be felt, apart from sleepiness. A brain that is not consistently refreshed begins to build-up Amyloids – a fibrous protein naturally found in the body – and the less sleep one has, the more the Amyloids build up to an Amyloid plaque. The plaque is a hallmark of Alzheimer’s disease. In younger people the brain has the ability to clean up these Amyloids, but it becomes more and more difficult over time as the brain starts having to deal with exhaustion and the Amyloids build up.

As a person develops Alzheimer’s, life takes on an entirely different meaning, and patients generally live their lives using assisted or medical transport, and struggling with general day to day activities. It’s a hugely debilitating disease whereby patients eventually lose their memory and thinking skills to the point where even the smallest daily function becomes the hardest task.

For this reason, even remote, a disrupted sleep pattern should be avoided at best. The body requires at least eight hours while children require 10 hours of sleep, and these guidelines should be adhered to as best. Even if people are getting to bed early for an eight hour rest, it often works out to 6.5 hours sleep due to a disrupted sleep cycle.

There are several causes for disrupted sleep such as sleep apnea, snoring and nightmares, amongst others. If you’re struggling with any of these it’s suggested you speak to your doctor. Disrupted sleep can be extremely debilitating even for the most active and healthy person. Healthcare logistics are still working on the study, however it is obvious that even one night’s lack of sleep speaks volumes about how memory and general function can be impaired.