I had to rush out and tell you about a shocking new study about sleep and brain health. People who don’t get enough sleep in middle age are at greater risk for memory loss and dementia as they grow older, according to an article published in the prestigious journal Nature.

Here’s what they found. Folks who slept 6 hours or less in their 50s and 60s were more 30% more likely to suffer from dementia as seniors. In other words, poor sleep habits now cause serious brain problems later. This relationship held true even when they corrected for confounding variables like other medical problems and socioeconomic status.

Sleep is good for more than brain health. A recent study looked at the recent decline in heart attacks. They suggest that increased sleep due to the pandemic may be protecting our hearts!

I recommend all my patients secure at least 7-8 hours of high-quality sleep per night. The evidence is clear, let’s make it happen!

Gregory Charlop, MD

Telemedicine consultations available throughout California and Texas.