Chronic Insomnia Tied to Faster Cognitive Decline Risk

Poor sleep in later life may do more than leave you tired – it could speed up cognitive decline. A large Mayo Clinic study, following more than 2,700 older adults, has found that chronic insomnia is linked to faster cognitive decline, a higher risk of dementia, and measurable brain changes such as amyloid build-up and small vessel damage. Several meta-analyses have found that insomnia increases the risk of dementia and cognitive decline, including Alzheimer’s disease.