This interesting article from Women’s Health looks at research suggesting that excessive daytime sleepiness may be an early warning sign worth paying attention to as we age.

What you’ll learn

Researchers followed adults aged 65+ and found that people experiencing excessive daytime sleepiness were more likely to develop motoric cognitive risk syndrome (MCR) — a condition involving slower walking and self-reported memory or thinking difficulties that can precede dementia.

The study found that 35% of people with excessive daytime sleepiness developed MCR, compared with 6.7% of those without it.

This doesn’t mean that feeling sleepy during the day means you have dementia. But persistent or changing sleepiness — particularly alongside changes in memory, thinking or walking — may be worth discussing with your doctor.

HEAL takeaway

Sleep is an important part of brain health. Paying attention to changes in sleep quality, daytime alertness, memory and movement may help us recognise when something needs further investigation.

Good sleep habits, regular movement and addressing problems such as sleep apnoea are all important parts of looking after our brain as we age.

Read about daytime sleepiness and dementia risk here

A quick note from HEAL: These summaries are for general education and do not replace personalised medical advice. Speak with a qualified health professional if you notice significant changes in sleep, memory, thinking or movement.