Sleeping in regularly may not be a good idea if you want to keep your brain sharp, according to a new study that found people in their 60s and 70s who slept on average 9 hours or more in a 24-hour period showed a more rapid decline in cognitive function over 3 years than counterparts who slept 6-8 hours.
Decline in cognitive function, such as memory and thinking, is a feature of Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI), a known risk factor for dementia.
The study, which was conducted by researchers from the University Hospital Madrid and Columbia University in New York, was published online recently in the Journal of Psychiatric Research.
The researchers, led by Dr. Julián Benito-León, looked at data from a large cohort of over 2,700 people in their 60s and 70s who were followed for 3 years.
At the beginning and end of the study period, the participants underwent assessment of brain function using the mini-mental state examination (MMSE), one of a battery of tests used to assess dementia.
Over the 3 years they were followed, the participants also filled in reports that included details of their sleeping patterns.
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