Dr. Wendy Troxel, a sleep therapist in Utah, discusses a study that found small bouts of light exercise in the evening can help promote more restful sleep. Feeling sleepy during the day could signal a more serious issue for some groups.
A new study published in the journal Neurology revealed a possible connection between daytime sleepiness in older people and dementia risk. People who lack enthusiasm for activities and feel sleepy during the day were found to have a higher risk of developing a condition called motoric cognitive risk syndrome (MCR). ‘HOW MUCH SLEEP IS TOO MUCH?’: ASK A DOCTOR MCR can cause people to walk at slower speeds and experience memory issues – and it can occur before dementia develops.
Researchers found that people with a lack of enthusiasm and daytime sleepiness are more than three times more likely to develop MCR. (iStock) The study, led by Albert Einstein College of Medicine in the Bronx, New York, included 445 participants averaging 76 years of age who did not have dementia. Participants were asked about memory issues and walked on treadmills to assess their walking speeds.
This was repeated once a year for an average of three years. The group also completed a sleep assessment to gauge sleeping problems, patterns and medications. TO IMPROVE YOUR SLEEP, DO THIS ACTIVITY BEFORE BED, EXPERTS SUGGEST The researchers also tracked how often people had trouble staying awake while driving, eating or being social, as well as their issues maintaining e.
