Frequent oversleeping might be an initial sign of several serious illnesses such as Alzheimer’s, suggests recent research.
Research has shown that individuals getting approximately seven hours of sleep are less prone to experiencing significant health problems.
Individuals who get more than seven hours of sleep are at an increased risk of experiencing cognitive decline along with heart disease and conditions related to it.
diabetes
.
However, individuals who managed less than seven hours of sleep tended to experience lower moods, feelings of tiredness, and poorer muscle and bone health.
MRI studies showed that the brain regions associated with emotions tend to be smaller in individuals who get less sleep. Experts think this shrinkage may explain why these people often experience lower moods.
Experts labeled the discoveries as a ‘game changer’ in comprehending the link between sleep and well-being.
The research conducted at the University of Warwick examined sleep patterns involving almost 500,000 individuals aged between 38 and 73 years old.
The researchers indicate that for individuals who sleep excessively, this is probably a sign of an underlying condition rather than the reason behind it.
Prior studies have indicated that getting more than nine hours of sleep might signal the presence of Alzheimer’s, a degenerative brain disorder. However, investigators from Warwick suggest that consistently sleeping for over seven hours may also point towards this serious illness.
Nevertheless, individuals who get less than seven hours of sleep attribute their health problems to the lack of sufficient rest.
Experts express their optimism that these discoveries could enable early detection of illnesses and swiftly offer treatment strategies for individuals struggling with sleep issues.
The subsequent phase of the study will involve monitoring alterations in sleep patterns as time progresses.
‘This represents a significant change in our understanding of the connection between sleep and overall health,’ states Professor Jianfeng Feng, a biologist and co-author of the study at Warwick University.
‘Our final objective is to create a complete sleep health overview throughout an individual’s entire lifetime, offering practical recommendations for people at each developmental stage.’
Read more