A recent study in the United States revealed that chronic insomnia does not only lead to a general feeling of fatigue, but also may also accelerate the aging of the brain.
According to the study, published by the scientific journal (Neurology), which specializes in neuroscientists, it was found that people who suffer from chronic insomnia are 40% more likely to have problems in the cognitive abilities of the brain or dementia compared to those who do not generally suffer from insomnia.
Chronic insomnia can be defined as the difficulty of sleeping for at least 3 days per week for 3 months or more.
The research team from the University of Ishhan Medical College in Mount Seina and the Mayo Clinic Medical Center in the United States followed up the health condition of about 2,800 healthy adults for 5 years, while measuring their sleep quality and conducting tests for cognitive abilities and subjecting some of them to radiography.
It became clear from the experience that volunteers with chronic insomnia have faster degradation in memory functions and thinking skills. Researchers participating in the study told “Health Day”, which specializes in medical research, that people who have difficulty sleeping or insomnia have a deterioration in cognitive jobs, equivalent to 4 years of brain aging.
Radiology images also showed that changes in the brain related to Alzheimer’s disease, such as the presence of more damage in the white matter and amyloid plaques.
The researchers say that these results “indicate that chronic insomnia may be an early sign or a factor that contributes to the possibility of problems in the cognitive abilities of patients in the future.”
They stressed the need to conduct more research to determine whether improving the quality of sleep through treatment or medications or the adoption of healthy habits that may help protect brain functions and slow down the deterioration of cognitive functions.