British researchers say - Too much sleep in middle age affects the Brain Power

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Too much sleep in middle age could be as bad as not getting enough, British researchers say.
UK study abroad of almost 9000 persons has found about 50 to 64 years old who sleep less than six and more than eight hours a night have worse decision-making ability and memories study. But for older adults about 65 to 89 years old, brain power was only impaired if they slept over eight hours a night. And getting the right amount of sleep at an older age may prevent mental illness in later life such as dementia, the researchers at the University of Warwick suggested.

"Sleep is important for good health and mental well being," Professor Francesco Cappuccio said.
"Optimizing sleep at an older age may help to delay the decline in brain function seen with age, or may slow or prevent the rapid decline that leads to dementia."

Dr. Michelle Miller said the study's finding suggested the amount of sleep people need and its effect on their health changes with age. "Six to eight hours of sleep per night is particularly important for optimum brain function in younger adults,"  "These results are consistent with our previous research, which showed six to eight hours per night was optimal for physical health, including lowest risk of developing obesity, hypertension, diabetes, heart disease and stroke."

Prior studies have shown getting enough sleep allows the brain to cleanse itself of harmful toxins accumulated during waking hours.  It is less apparent why too much sleep could be harmful but existing research has linked oversleeping with medical problems such as heart disease and diabetes.  But researchers have said the link may be partly due to oversleeping being more common among those suffering from depression, the unemployed and the poor, who are more likely to suffer health problems.  The findings of the latest study abroad guide were published, 3968 men and 4821 women between 50 and 90 years old in the English Longitudinal Study of Ageing.  They registered the quality and quantity of the subjects' sleep over one month.