Lack of sleep can raise your risk for developing dementia

According to a new study, if you are in your 50’s or 60’s and sleep less than 7 hours per night, you are raising your risk for developing dementia.

The data came from a study of British civil servants out of University College London. European researchers looked at survey data for nearly 8,000 adults in the U.K. over 25 years and linked the data with dementia diagnoses in electronic health records.

Prior to the release of the study, health experts had strong evidence that sleep becomes abnormal before dementia is diagnosed and that short sleep contributes to mental decline.

Health experts say sleep is a medical necessity ever night and suggest that you develop a good routine to ensure that you get your allotted hours of rest.

Good routine:

1.   Keep a constant routine.

2.  Make your room as dark, quiet, and cool as possible.

3.  Remove electronic devices.

4.  Avoid large meals, alcohol, and caffeine before bed.

5.  Exercise.

Sleep recommendation for each age group:

Children under 12 – 9 hours of sleep,

Teenagers 8 – 10 hours of sleep

Adults – 7 hours of sleep