Want to Maintain Brain Health? Sleep!
Alzheimer’s Disease is one of the most cruel diseases that can affect us as humans. It robs us of our memories, and eventually robs of us our mental power and our lives. So it is very important that not only do you maintain good brain nutrition, but that prevention steps are taken now to ensure that your brain remains healthy and powerful throughout your life.
How Lack of Sleep Can Decrease Brain Health and Increase Alzheimer’s Risk
Recent research done by Dr. David M. Holtzman at the Washington University School of Medicine has shown a correlation between lack of sleep and the development of Alzheimer’s Disease. One of the clear indicators of Alzheimer’s Disease is beta-amyloid plaques in the brain. These plaques interfere with brain function and cause the dementia associated with Alzheimer’s. Dr. Holtzman’s research team subjected mice to sleep deprivation, limiting them to 4 hours of sleep per day and found an increase in the development of plaques in the brain. Over time, this can cause a serious decline in overall brain health.
Some of the mice were then given a new drug for insomnia, which put the mice to sleep for greater time periods. Lower levels of plaque-forming proteins were measured in the mice, indicative of more positive long-term outcomes.
Additionally, Dr. Holtzman tested healthy males to measure levels of beta-amyloid during both waking and sleeping hours, and found the beta-amyloid levels were lower during sleep cycles than when the men were awake. A conclusion can be inferred that greater will will lead to lower overall levels of beta-amyloid, and a lower chance of developing Alzheimer’s disease.
Other Options Besides Sleeping Pills May be Better Alternatives
Although sleeping pills can induce sleep, it is not necessarily known whether sleep induced by sleeping pills is most conducive to brain health. A healthy diet to maintain brain nutrition, a normal sleep schedule, and exercise to induce natural tiredness and drowsiness may be the best answers to long-term prevention of Alzheimer’s and dementia.
At this point, what specifically causes Alzheimer’s Disease is not well understood. We know some of the contributing factors, but the interaction of these factors in the brain is complicated. However, it is reasonable to assume that providing your body and mind with adequate sleep will increase overall brain health, body health, and general well-being. It is just one of the things you can do to significantly improve your quality of life.
When it comes to weight loss diets, carbohydrates are becoming misunderstood nutrients. Carbohydrates are the main source of energy in your body. They are also one of the three macro nutrients required for nutrition. The other two are proteins and lipids.