Too much sleep has a higher risk of dementia

Older people who sleep 9 hours or more a day have a higher risk of dementia than those who sleep less than 9 hours a day.

Spanish researchers have shown that of the nearly 3,300 elderly people they have followed over a 3-year period, those who sleep more than 9 hours a day - including naps, are at risk. double dementia compared to people who have regular sleeps of 7 hours a day.

The study was published in the European Journal of Neurology based on the findings of 3286 people aged 65 and older. At the beginning of the study, these people were all tested for their memory and recorded daily sleeping habits.

Researchers are also based on other factors affecting both sleep and the risk of dementia including age, education, smoking habits, drinking alcohol .

Over a 3-year period, 140 study participants were diagnosed with dementia. Among those who slept at least 9 hours a day with more than 5% developed the disease, for those who slept 7 hours a day, only 2% got sick, with those who slept about 8 hours a day at 4%.

This study shows the link between long sleeps and dementia, but it still needs to demonstrate the relationship between long sleeps and dementia with which causes intermediate effects.