Loss of Slow-Wave Sleep Linked to Increased Risk of Dementia: JAMA

A new study published in Journal of American Medical Association from the Framingham Heart Study found Slow-wave sleep (SWS) loss linked to dementia risk. This relationship is especially relevant in light of age and genetic susceptibility to Alzheimer's disease. The 17-year study, which included 346 adults 60 years of age or older, found strong evidence that alterations in SWS may be a modifiable risk factor for dementia.
Long recognized for its involvement in removing toxic proteins connected to Alzheimer's disease, slow wave sleep (SWS) is a deep sleep phase that supports multiple brain functions. Still, it was unclear how directly it related to the onset of dementia. In order to resolve this uncertainty, this study looked at how age and genetic factors affect SWS.
The research, conducted from 2020 to 2023, found that as participants aged, they experienced a gradual decline in SWS. On average, SWS percentage decreased by 0.6% per year over the study's 17-year period. More strikingly, those who exhibited a more rapid loss of SWS were associated with an increased risk of dementia.
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