Sleep Better in Middle Age, and Remember Better Later in Life

If you’re in your middle years right or will be soon, do everything you can to get a good night’s sleep.  According to new research, it may help you down the road.

The researchers, from Baylor University’s Sleep Neuroscience and Cognition Laboratory, looked at 50 years of studies on the subject of sleep and memory, and came up with some fascinating conclusions.

It’s been known for some time that getting enough sleep when you’re young and middle-aged can help your memory at that time.  Also, we know that as individuals get into their 70’s, 80’s and 90’s, sleep is harder to come by but has less to do with memory.

The scientists at Baylor say their findings indicate that sleep is not only important for your memory now if you’re middle aged, getting a good night’s sleep now is actually a predictor of memory problems later.  Improving sleep early in life might delay, or even reverse, age-related changes in memory and thinking.  In other words, get your sleep now rather than trying to compensate later for years of less-than-adequate slumber.

Source: PsychCentral