Unexpectedly good weekend 'bad habit' for the elderly

The habit of sleeping in on weekends has previously been shown to reduce the risk of heart attacks, prevent obesity, depression and even help you live longer.

Now, the latest research just published in the scientific journal Sleep and Breathing , also found that sleeping in on weekends can help older adults reduce their risk of dementia by up to 74%, according to the Daily Mail.

Sleeping in on weekends can help older adults reduce their risk of dementia by up to 74%

Researchers from National Taiwan University Hospital followed 215 people aged 65 and older for two years. Participants kept sleep diaries and wore activity monitors to record their sleep time.

The authors then analyzed the incidence of cognitive dysfunction — an early warning sign of dementia.

They found that nearly half of the participants slept in on weekends to make up for lost sleep during the week.

Sleeping in on weekends has previously been shown to reduce the risk of heart attacks, prevent obesity, depression and even help you live longer.

The results found that people who slept in on weekends were 74% less likely to have cognitive impairment than those who did not have this habit.

Scientists believe that sleeping in on weekends gives the brain more time to rest and repair - strengthening connections between nerve cells.

It's also possible that getting enough sleep reduces inflammation in the body, which may help prevent dementia.

The authors said: This is the first study to look at the impact of sleeping in on cognitive decline in older adults. The results showed that catching up on sleep on the weekend reduced the risk of cognitive dysfunction, according to the Daily Mail.

Source: https://thanhnien.vn/thoi-xau-cuoi-tuan-khong-ngo-cuc-tot-cho-nguoi-lon-tuoi-185241026232335063.htm