DEEP SLEEP MAY DEFEND AGAINST ALZHEIMER’S

Each day, as your brain cells consume energy, they create waste products. These include beta-amyloid, a compound that’s found in abnormal levels in the brain of people with Alzheimer’s disease. Scientists believe that a healthy brain cleans out this unneeded substance during the deep dreamless part of the sleep cycle known as ‘slow-wave sleep’. In a sixyear study, seniors who experienced less slow-wave sleep tended to accumulate more beta-amyloid. This suggests you could reduce your Alzheimer’s risk by practising good sleeping habits and by seeking treatment for sleep disorders.