فاس نيوز ميديا جريدة الكترونية جهوية تعنى بشؤون و أخبار جهة فاس مكناس – متجددة على مدار الساعة
A recent scientific study has warned that irregular sleep and daily activity patterns among older adults may serve as an early indicator of an increased risk of developing dementia, stressing that brain health is closely linked to the strength of the body’s biological clock.
According to the study’s findings, which were based on a large sample of older adults, individuals who showed fragmented or weakened daily rhythms of activity and rest were significantly more likely to develop dementia compared with those who maintained a stable daily routine, both in sleep schedules and periods of movement and activity.
The research included more than 2,000 participants with an average age of over 79 years, none of whom had dementia at the start of the follow-up period. Researchers relied on digital devices to continuously monitor patterns of activity and rest, allowing for precise measurement of each participant’s biological clock strength.
Over a follow-up period of approximately three years, the risk of developing dementia was found to be markedly higher among participants with weaker daily rhythms, with incidence rates more than double those observed among individuals who maintained clear and consistent daily routines.
The results went further, showing that the timing of peak daily activity also plays an important role. Delayed peak activity occurring later in the afternoon was associated with an additional increase in dementia risk, compared with individuals whose activity peaked in the morning or around midday.
Researchers suggest that these disturbances may reflect a weakened interaction between the biological clock and natural environmental cues, such as light and darkness, which can negatively affect sleep quality and essential brain functions.
In a scientific interpretation of the findings, the research team explained that disruptions to daily rhythms may contribute to increased brain inflammation or to the accumulation of proteins associated with Alzheimer’s disease, while also reducing the brain’s ability to clear such proteins with advancing age.
Although the study does not establish a direct causal relationship, it highlights circadian rhythm disruption as a potential early warning factor that can be detected in advance. This opens the door to possible preventive interventions, including improving sleep habits, organizing daily activity schedules, and ensuring regular exposure to natural light, with the aim of reducing the risk of cognitive decline among older adults.
Source: Fes News Media
