For any insomniacs out there, or those beating a Netflix addiction to watch ‘one more episode’ before going to sleep – we have some bad news for you. The latest research proves those suffering from sleep deprivation are actually more likely to suffer from brain shrinkage.
A new study published in Neurology found that people who have trouble sleeping experience a faster decline in brain volume. Although the research notes that everyone’s brain shrinks a bit, the results found that people who have trouble sleeping tend to experience a faster decline in brain volume, “including within frontal, temporal, and parietal areas.”
For the study, participants underwent two brain scans approximately three and a half years apart. The results proved that those who had issues falling asleep or waking up during the night had experienced a faster reduction in their brain size than those who were content sleepers.
The shrinkage increased as the subject’s sleeping hours decreased, proving a link between brain size and sleeping patterns.
Better start tucking up nice and early from now on.
