Alzheimer’s: The sleeping position that slashes your risk of developing dementia
GETTING Alzheimer’s is a frightening prospect, and something most people will do whatever they can to avoid.
Eating better and taking care of your health is the first step, but also taking note of how you sleep could be beneficial.
Sleeping in a certain position helps lower the risk of dementia, studies have found.
Sleep expert Narwan Amini said: “Sleeping on your side has been found to be the most beneficial position for your brain, with the position helping your brain to clear out interstitial waste faster than other positions.
“This leads to multiple benefits including potentially reducing the risk of developing neurological diseases such as Parkinson’s or Alzheimer’s.”
Sleeping on your side is generally considered the healthiest sleeping position – this is because it gives good spine support for your spine, while also minimising acid reflux.
The expert from eachnight.com also revealed the world position to sleep in for your overall health – on your stomach.
They said it can lead to strained muscles and joints, stiffness, back and neck pain.
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Researchers at Stony Brook University found sleeping on your side is the most efficient at removing brain waste.
Dr Helene Benveniste said: “It is interesting that the lateral sleep position is already the most popular in human and most animals – even in the wild – and it appears that we have adapted the lateral sleep position to most efficiently clear our brain of the metabolic waste products that built up while we are awake.
“The study therefore adds further support to the concept that sleep subserves a distinct biological function of sleep and that is to ‘clean up’ the mess that accumulates while we are awake.
“Many types of dementia are linked to sleep disturbances, including difficulties in falling asleep.
“It is increasing acknowledged that these sleep disturbances may accelerate memory loss in Alzheimer’s disease.
“Our finding brings new insight into this topic by showing it is also important what position you sleep in.”
The condition affects one in six people over the age of 80 and it is thought that around 850,000 people in total are suffering in the UK alone.
A hallmark of the disease is the build-up of amyloid beta proteins in the brain, which causes plaques.
The plaques then result in the loss of connections between nerve cells in the brain – and ultimately the death of those cells and a loss of brain tissue.
Those with Alzheimer’s also have a shortage of key chemicals in the brain, which help transmit messages.
A lack of these chemicals means the brain is unable to process certain messages how it would have previously.
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