Having enough sleep can help prevent dementia, according to a recent study.
Dementia, such as Alzheimer's disease, is a neurodegenerative condition caused by accumulation of beta-amyloid in the brain.
A recent study, led by Professor Roh Jee-hoon at the University of Ulsan's Asan Medical Center in Seoul and Professor David M. Holtzman of Washington University in St. Louis, points out the relationship between sleep and orexin, a neurotransmitter that regulates arousal and wakefulness.
The findings support previous studies that show those who sleep fewer than six hours per night have more beta-amyloid in their brains than those who sleep at least seven hours.
Roh's study explains that less sleep increases the risk of dementia, as "modulation of orexin and its effects on sleep appear to modulate [beta-amyloid] in the brain."
The findings of the study were published in the latest issue of the Journal of Experimental Medicine.
