Do you suffer from excessive sleepiness? Scientists warn: You increase your risk of dementia!

The team of scientists believes that people who are extremely sleepy during the day may suffer from a specific syndrome suggestive of dementia. They found this in a new study that looked at the health and cognitive function of older people. , experts cautioned that if you are concerned about these symptoms, you should seek medical attention.

What is the difference between Alzheimer’s disease and dementia?

Before we reveal the results of the study, it is necessary to determine the differences between Alzheimer’s disease and dementia. While the main symptom of Alzheimer’s disease is forgetting names, places or memories, there are forms of dementia that can cause hallucinations, rigidity and even anxiety. Both diseases, however they overlap in that they cause patients to feel confused.

Excessive sleepiness may be related to dementia

At the beginning, the participants were asked about various specific data about their sleep. These included whether they have trouble falling asleep within half an hour, whether they take specific sleep medications, whether they are too hot or cold when trying to fall asleep, or whether they wake up in the middle of the night. Later, once a year for three years they tried to see if they had memory problems and tested how fast they could walk on a treadmill.

Their research revealed that seniors who have sleep problems are more likely to develop motor cognitive risk syndrome. This is a condition that usually occurs before the onset of dementia. But experts point out that it may not definitively indicate the development of this disease in a specific patient.

The researchers also found that 42 participants had the condition before the study, but it developed in another 36 seniors over the course of three years. “Our findings highlight the need for screening for sleep problems. We believe that people could get help to solve them and thus prevent the deterioration of cognitive functions in later life,” said study author Dr. Victoire Leroy of the Albert Einstein College of Medicine in New York.