Recent research on sleep and its effects on memory disorders suggest that the two are linked in unexpected ways. 

Sleep helps consolidate memories, pruning out what’s not important and storing or reinforcing the neural networks for more important information, explained Steven Barczi, MD (pictured above and at upper right), professor (CHS), Geriatrics and Gerontology. 

People with dementia and memory problems can suffer from sleep issues, further compounding behavioral effects of sleep debt. 

Studies have shown links between developing dementia and sleeping less than six hours or more than nine hours each day, but only indicated a relationship, not cause-and-effect. 

"It’s also important to remember that the diagnosis of dementia requires marked changes in thinking as well as poorer performance on brain testing. Both of these can be influenced by poor sleep, particularly if the poor sleep is longstanding," said Nathaniel Chin, MD (pictured at lower right), assistant professor (CHS), Geriatrics and Gerontology. 

Dr. Barczi and Dr. Chin explained the interconnection between sleep and dementia in an article by UW Health. Both are UW Health geriatricians and members of the Division of Geriatrics and Gerontology in the Department of Medicine. Dr. Barczi's clinical and research interests include sleep medicine; he is also a nationally recognized medical educator in the field of geriatrics. Dr. Chin is director of medical services at the Wisconsin Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center (WARDC) and the medical services director for the Wisconsin Registry for Alzheimer’s Prevention (WRAP) study.

Resources: 

• "Sleep and the Alzheimer's Connection," UW Health, June 12, 2018