Weekend sleep-ins won’t undo a bad sleep week, neurologist warns, as dementia damage can start 20 years before memory loss
Neurologist Dr. Mohamad Imran Idris warns that 'catching up' on sleep during weekends does not reverse the long-term damage caused by chronic sleep deprivation. Consistent sleep patterns are essential for brain health, as sleep is when the brain clears metabolic waste that may contribute to dementia.
Why it matters
This emphasizes the importance of long-term sleep hygiene as a preventative health measure against neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer's.
SUBANG JAYA, Sept 18 — Brain changes associated with Alzheimer’s disease were found to begin 15 to 20 years before the onset of noticeable memory loss, making long-term sleep hygiene a critical and early preventive measure.
Sunway Medical Centre, Sunway City Consultant Neurologist Dr Mohamad Imran Idris warned that while pulling occasional late nights might have seemed harmless, consistent poor sleep patterns over months and years compounded metabolic stress on the brain, accelerating neurodegenerative risks.
“Changes in the brain start 15 to 20 years before somebody actually develops dementia, meaning 20 years before they start having severe memory problems, you can already see microscopic changes occurring,” he told Bernama in an exclusive interview.
Addressing a widespread biological misconception, Dr Mohamad Imran emphasised that individuals could not compensate for or “buy back” lost weekday sleep by oversleeping during weekends.
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