Your Sleep Tracker May Spot Dementia Risk Years Before Symptoms Appear
Graded Strong — prospective cohort of 53,448 UK adults aged 60 and over followed about 8 years, with results confirmed in a second cohort of 3,965 followed roughly 11 years.
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- Participants
- 57,000
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- Funding
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This study suggests tracking daily activity and sleep patterns may flag early dementia risk.
Researchers tracked older adults' sleep and movement patterns using wrist accelerometers, then watched who developed dementia. Less daytime activity and disrupted sleep both predicted higher dementia risk years later. Adding these movement patterns to standard risk models boosted prediction as much as testing for the APOE gene, a known dementia risk factor.
Disclaimer: Research summaries are provided for informational purposes only and do not constitute medical advice. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional before making changes to your health routine.