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impact on your attention span and
short-term memory. Lack of sleep also
weakens your decision-making ability
and your long-term memory as well.
And over time, too little sleep can
even contribute to cognitive decline,
memory loss and increase your risk for
developing dementia.
5. Bedtime is when your brain clears
harmful toxins.
Contrary to popular belief, our
brains don’t slow down while we’re
sleeping. Scientists are learning more
about the glymphatic system, which
serves as a waste disposal system in
our bodies and clears harmful toxins
and debris from our brains. The
glymphatic system is almost 10 times
more active during sleep than it is
during wakefulness.
One of the most crucial aspects of
these new findings for seniors is that
one of the toxins being cleared from
our brain during sleep is thought to
contribute to Alzheimer’s disease.
According to Maiken Nedergaard,
M.D., D.M.Sc., co-director of the Center
for Translational Neuromedicine at the
University of Rochester Medical Center
(URMC) and lead author of the study,
“Sleep is critical to the function of the
brain’s waste removal system.”
The Importance of Sleep for Older Adults
A
tissue repair – all of which are needed to
keep your immune system strong.
3. Restful sleep maintains your weight
and supports metabolism.
Getting enough sleep is key to weight
maintenance and keeping your metabolism
moving at a healthy rate. Sufficient sleep
also regulates ghrelin, a hormone that
stimulates your appetite. If you’re sleep
deprived, your metabolism slows down
which can lead to weight gain.
4. Good sleep improves concentration
and memory.
A good night’s rest keeps your brain
healthy and your memory sharp. It’s well
known that sleep deprivation has a negative
good night’s sleep is essential for
successful aging, no matter how old
you are. After all, sleep is a time of
rest and rejuvenation, when our minds and
bodies can recuperate after a long day..
According to the National Sleep
Foundation, people over age 65 should get
at least seven-to-eight hours of sleep every
night. That’s because getting the rest you
need can help you stay both physically and
mentally well as you age.
5 SLEEP BENEFITS FOR SENIORS
1. A good night’s sleep boosts your mood.
Sleep and mental health are closely
related. In many ways, both impact each
other. Not getting enough sleep can lead
to mental health issues like depression and
anxiety, while mental health conditions can,
in turn, lower your sleep quality. A good
night’s sleep is crucial for your mental well-
being.
2. Quality sleep lowers your risk of
diseases.
Lack of sleep increases your risk of serious
health conditions and putting adde stress
on the body, leading to inflammation and
a weakened immune system. During sleep,
our bodies undergo restorative functions
like muscle growth, protein synthesis and
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