One type of sleep linked to dramatically lower risk of dementia, Parkinson’s and 81 other diseases
Future studies could also explore whether the relationship between sleep stages and disease risk varies by age, sex, overall health and other individual characteristics.
Both experts recommended following general sleep hygiene practices, such as maintaining an optimal environment (dark, cool and quiet), keeping a consistent sleep schedule and avoiding sleep-disrupting substances such as alcohol and caffeine.
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“If you have other sleep pathologies like sleep apnea … treating that would be a great way to optimize the amount of REM sleep,” Ishikawa advised.
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While it can be difficult to measure REM sleep without a wearable, he said the best gauge is whether one feels refreshed upon waking and doesn’t feel sleepy during the day.
“If you get about seven to nine hours of uninterrupted sleep, you most likely have the opportunity to cycle through REM in a sufficient way.”
Melissa Rudy is senior health editor and a member of the lifestyle team at Fox News Digital. Story tips can be sent to melissa.rudy@fox.com.
Article source: https://www.foxnews.com/health/sleep-type-linked-dramatically-lower-risk-dementia-parkinsons-81-diseases