#99 - Dementia and Sleep: Because I Don’t Remember

In episode 62, we began to look at the role sleep plays in memory. In episode 65, we looked at the condition REM behavior disorder and how this neurodegenerative condition is often associated with telling sleep disorders. We continue both of these dialogues in this episode. In this episode we will:

• Look at research linking sleep disorders and inadequate sleep to dementia
• Single out Lewy body dementia as a particular concern when sleep is chronically disrupted
• Determine how much sleep seems to be optimal when it comes to dementia prevention
• Examine other sleep-adjacent factors (exercise, sedentary habits) that tend to predict dementia
• Discuss theories as to why sleep and dementia are linked
• Uncover the vague nature and lack of evidence supporting how we manage the sleep of dementia patients
• Show the lack of evidence supporting bright light therapy in managing sleep issues in dementia patients
• List some best practices when it comes to helping patients with dementia sleep better

Produced by: Maeve Winter

More

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• The Sleep Solution and The Rested Child

Thanks for listening and sleep well!