A study conducted at the Karolinska Institute in Sweden has found that a lack of sleep accelerates brain aging. Researchers analyzed sleep behavior and MRI scans of over 27,000 British adults aged 40 to 70. Using machine learning, they determined that people with poor sleep quality have brains that appear older than their chronological age. "The gap between brain age and chronological age widened by about six months for every one-point decrease in sleep quality score," said lead researcher Dr. Abigail Duff. The study also revealed that 10% of this relationship is explained by higher levels of inflammation in the body. Scientists link this to the fact that insufficient sleep disrupts the brain's natural waste-clearance system, impairs blood flow, and promotes the buildup of harmful proteins. "Our findings provide evidence that insufficient sleep may contribute to accelerated brain aging," Dr. Duff emphasized. "Since sleep is modifiable, it may be possible to prevent accelerated brain aging and perhaps even cognitive decline through healthy sleep."
