You're 40% more likely to develop dementia if you have trouble sleeping this many times a week

Don’t sleep on this troubling sign that may increase your risk of dementia .

Age, genetics, high blood pressure, unmanaged Type 2 diabetes, smoking and untreated hearing loss are among the major risk factors for dementia , a progressive condition that affects memory, thinking and the ability to perform daily tasks.

Researchers from the Mayo Clinic wanted to explore how chronic insomnia affects brain aging and dementia risk. Sleep is vital for the brain to perform essential functions like cellular repair, memory processing and the removal of toxins and waste products. 3

“Insomnia doesn’t just affect how you feel the next day — it may also impact your brain health over time,” said study author Dr. Diego Z. Carvalho of the Mayo Clinic.

“We saw faster decline in thinking skill