Staying up late with insufficient or low-quality sleep may endanger brain function, particularly for those with higher education. A new study involving adults in their middle and later years revealed that well-educated people who frequently stay up late may face a decline in cognitive function. The research indicates that individuals with lower education levels may have work schedules that permit more sleep.
A disrupted circadian rhythm, the body’s natural cycle of sleep and activity, is a dementia risk factor that impairs sleep quality and duration. Research indicates that highly educated “night owls” may face accelerated cognitive decline due to work schedules clashing with their natural sleep-wake preferences.
Experts suggest that a person’s chronotype, or natural sleep-wake cycle, may influence cognitive decline risk. Chronotype of a person refers to an individual’s innate tendency for sleep and activity timing, with night owls feeling more energetic later in the day, prompting later bedtimes.
Over a decade, researchers tracked the cognitive abilities of over 20,000 middle-aged and older adults, finding that highly educated individuals with a late-night chronotype experienced more significant cognitive decline. They often face disrupted sleep rhythms due to frequent early morning work schedules, leading to insufficient sleep and inadequate brain rest. A one-hour delay in the sleep-wake cycle resulted in a 0.8-point decline in cognitive scores over 10 years among highly educated individuals. The middle-education group showed a marginally significant effect, while no link was found in the low-education group.
Individuals who consistently stay up late, known as night owls, may experience a circadian rhythm disorder. Disruption of the circadian rhythm can impair the blood-brain barrier, causing neurological problems. Late-night sleepers are also more prone to unhealthy behaviors like smoking, drinking alcohol and poor sleep quality, which may contribute to neuronal damage and neurodegeneration.
Maintaining consistent bedtime and wake-up times daily promotes a stable sleep routine and minimizes disruptions. Individuals who stay up late yet rise early often lack sufficient quality sleep, increasing their risk of mental health problems.
To view the original scientific study click below:
Chronotype as a potential risk factor for cognitive decline: The mediating role of sleep quality and health behaviours in a 10-year follow-up study
