WHAT HAPPENS TO OUR BRAINS WHEN WE’RE SHORT ON SLEEP?

by Smita Patel, DO

Dear Readers,

November is Alzheimer’s Awareness Month and in that spirit I will be posting a blog each week this month on topics surrounding Alzheimer’s disease.

But first, I’d like to introduce myself.   My name is Dr. Smita Patel.  I am a neurologist specializing in sleep medicine and integrative medicine. I also have special interest in preventing neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s.

This past weekend we set our clocks behind one hour which will alter our normal sleep routine. So, this is a perfect time to talk about the importance of sleep, how sleep affects your brain, and how sleep relates to risk of Alzheimer’s disease.

While we sleep deeply, the brain experiences a transfer of fluids to remove waste proteins that have accumulated during the day. Sleeping less than 6 hours on a regular basis, or having disrupted sleep increases your risk of Alzheimer’s disease because this crucial removal of waste has been hindered. However, more is not always better; sleeping more than 8 hours a day may be an early sign of mild cognitive impairment.  Because of these sleep-related risks, it is important that we aim for 6 to 8 hours of quality sleep per night and that we partner with our doctors to treat insomnia and other sleep disorders and sleep apnea.

  Do try to get to keep a bedtime routine to assure you get enough sleep.

Dr. Smita Patel, DO, is a neurologist at NorthShore University HealthSystem, and an integral part of NorthShore’s Center for Brain Health. Dr. Patel brings expertise in neurology and sleep along with a proficiency in complementary and integrative medicine to develop tailored health plans for her clients. She is board certified in Neurology and Sleep Medicine. Dr. Patel has participated in clinical research studies in the area of sleep medicine and has written book chapters for several academic publications on neurological disorders. She has a strong interest in researching the cause and treatment of neurological diseases as well as supporting and participating in educational programs. Dr. Patel is part of the integrated team at the Center for Brain Health at NorthShore Neurological Institute, working with patients to reduce the risk for Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease and other brain disorders, and to improve brain health. For more information, please visit  NorthShore Center for Brain Health.