Why too much sleep can endanger your health - experts warn!

Why too much sleep can endanger your health - experts warn!

Sufficient sleep is of central importance for health, but new research results show that too much sleep can be harmful. A current investigation by the University of Texas Health Science Center , which analyzed data from 1,853 people between the ages of 27 and 85, without this without this to dementia or stroke suffered, emphasizes that a sleeping time of nine hours or more per night is associated with poorer cognitive performance.

This effect is particularly evident in people with depressive symptoms, regardless of whether they take antidepressants or not. Health experts therefore recommend striving for about 7 to 8 hours of sleep a night to promote physical and mental well -being. Earlier studies have also found a connection between excessive sleep and an increased risk of Alzheimer's and other neurodegenerative diseases, especially in old age.

a worrying interaction

The study mentioned also examined the effects of depression on the relationship between the duration of sleep and cognitive performance. Multivariable linear regression models were used here. The participants were categorized in four groups: without depressive symptoms and without antidepressants, with depressed symptoms without antidepressants, with antidepressants without depressive symptoms and finally with both depressive symptoms and antidepressants. Results show that long sleeping time, especially in those with depressed symptoms, was strongly correlated with a reduced cognitive function. This indicates that sleep duration could be a changeable risk factor for cognitive impairments, especially in people with depression, as described in the study on Pubmed

The symptoms of depression are complex: from despair and hopelessness to difficulties of concentration to sleep disorders. In fact, many people with depression suffer from insomnia or excessive sleep. Experts report that 83 % of depressive patients fight with insomnia, while hypersomnia affects 40 % of young adults with depression. These sleep problems are not only stressful, they can also deteriorate the mood considerably and make the treatment of depression more difficult.

the need for research

The study from Texas suggests that cognitive impairments due to changed sleep habits could possibly be mitigated. Future research should increasingly take care of the mechanisms and temporal relationships between sleep disorders and cognitive services. These findings could also help improve treatment approaches for people with depression suffering from sleep disorders. The combination of psychotherapy, medication and light therapy has already proven to be effective treatment for depression -related sleep problems, as on sleep.org

summarizing sleep is not only a question of the quantity, but also of quality. The balance between enough sleep and avoiding excessive sleep could be a key to better mental health and cognitive performance. Researchers and health experts therefore call for sleep behavior as an important part of prevention against mental diseases.