Sleep Unplugged with Dr. Chris Winter
No holds barred, unscripted discussion on a wide range of sleep topics - from sleep disorders to current research and controversies in the field. No topic is off limits! Dr. Chris Winter is a clinician, a board certified neurologist and double boarded sleep specialist with 30 years of clinical experience. He is the author of The Sleep Solution and The Rested Child, and is a popular consultant and speaker, working for many professional sports teams. He is well known for his unique perspective and ability to demystify sleep, all of which he brings to Sleep Unplugged.
Sleep Unplugged with Dr. Chris Winter
#181 - Sleep Aids and Dementia: All Manner of Pills
You probably saw the headlines out of California as they sent a jolt through the sleep world as well as social media: Do common sleep medications increase your risk of dementia? In this episode we will:
- Review what the UCSF study actually found — and what the headlines got wrong
- Determine which medications are most often implicated (benzodiazepines vs Z-drugs vs trazodone)
- Take a deep dive into the three best studies on sleeping pills and dementia risk
- Find out why some large studies do show a connection… and others don’t
- Learn the real risks you should take seriously — even if dementia isn’t one of them
- Think about how doctors should actually practice prescribing sleep meds in older adults
Produced by: Maeve Winter
More
- Twitter: @drchriswinter
- IG: @drchriwinter
- Threads: @drchriswinter
- Bluesky: @drchriswinter
- The Sleep Solution and The Rested Child
Thanks for listening and sleep well!
