"Link Between Sleep Quality and Memory: Risks and Recommendations"
A study from the University of California San Francisco published in Neurology suggests that disrupted sleep in adults in their 30s and 40s may lead to memory problems and poorer cognitive performance a decade later. The study, which followed 526 people over 11 years, found that those with the most fragmented sleep had more than twice the odds of poor cognitive outcomes compared to those with the least disrupted sleep. While the study does not prove causation, it highlights the importance of sleep quality over quantity for cognitive health and suggests a potential prevention strategy for Alzheimer's disease. The CDC recommends at least seven hours of sleep per night for most adults, emphasizing the impact of sleep on mood, productivity, and safety. Other studies also link poor sleep with increased dementia risk and suggest that addressing sleep issues may reduce the risk of dementia and death.