Middle-aged adults who regularly sleep fewer than six hours a night are at greater risk of dementia, according to new research.
People aged between 50 and 70 with a pattern of consistently shorter sleeping periods face a 30 per cent higher risk of the condition, a study that tracked nearly 8,000 Britons over three decades found.
About 10 million new cases of dementia are reported worldwide every year and the study published on Tuesday in Nature Communications adds to evidence suggesting that disturbed sleeping patterns are a contributing factor.
Previous research has shown that mental illness and longer than average periods of sleeping are also linked to the disorder.
The latest paper examined the development of dementia over a longer period than most studies, which typically span fewer than 10 years, the authors said.
Researchers from Finland, France, the Netherlands and the UK studied data that tracked the health of 7,959 working people since 1985. The data came from a University College of London study, with participants self-reporting how long they slept, with their data backed up by that from wrist monitors.
It found that 521 of them had been diagnosed with dementia, with most of the cases emerging after the age of 70.
The study found that “normal” sleepers, getting seven hours a night, were most likely to be white, married men with sound mental health.
Depression and mood swings are also linked to changes in sleeping patterns. But the study failed to find a link between the small number of long sleepers in the study and dementia.
“The findings suggest sleep may be important for brain health in midlife,” the study found. “Future research may be able to establish whether improving sleep habits may help prevent dementia.”
A second study published on Tuesday showed a clear link between broken sleep and an increased risk of dying of heart disease.
The study of 8,001 men and women published in European Heart Journal found that women who most often emerged from deep sleep at night had nearly double the risk of dying from cardiovascular disease.
Info
What: 11th edition of the Mubadala World Tennis Championship
When: December 27-29, 2018
Confirmed: men: Novak Djokovic, Rafael Nadal, Kevin Anderson, Dominic Thiem, Hyeon Chung, Karen Khachanov; women: Venus Williams
Tickets: www.ticketmaster.ae, Virgin megastores or call 800 86 823
What the law says
Micro-retirement is not a recognised concept or employment status under Federal Decree Law No. 33 of 2021 on the Regulation of Labour Relations (as amended) (UAE Labour Law). As such, it reflects a voluntary work-life balance practice, rather than a recognised legal employment category, according to Dilini Loku, senior associate for law firm Gateley Middle East.
“Some companies may offer formal sabbatical policies or career break programmes; however, beyond such arrangements, there is no automatic right or statutory entitlement to extended breaks,” she explains.
“Any leave taken beyond statutory entitlements, such as annual leave, is typically regarded as unpaid leave in accordance with Article 33 of the UAE Labour Law. While employees may legally take unpaid leave, such requests are subject to the employer’s discretion and require approval.”
If an employee resigns to pursue micro-retirement, the employment contract is terminated, and the employer is under no legal obligation to rehire the employee in the future unless specific contractual agreements are in place (such as return-to-work arrangements), which are generally uncommon, Ms Loku adds.
The specs
- Engine: 3.9-litre twin-turbo V8
- Power: 640hp
- Torque: 760nm
- On sale: 2026
- Price: Not announced yet
The National photo project
Chris Whiteoak, a photographer at The National, spent months taking some of Jacqui Allan's props around the UAE, positioning them perfectly in front of some of the country's most recognisable landmarks. He placed a pirate on Kite Beach, in front of the Burj Al Arab, the Cheshire Cat from Alice in Wonderland at the Burj Khalifa, and brought one of Allan's snails (Freddie, which represents her grandfather) to the Dubai Frame. In Abu Dhabi, a dinosaur went to Al Ain's Jebel Hafeet. And a flamingo was taken all the way to the Hatta Mountains. This special project suitably brings to life the quirky nature of Allan's prop shop (and Allan herself!).
Match info
Uefa Champions League Group F
Manchester City v Hoffenheim, midnight (Wednesday, UAE)
