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Indian Express
5 days ago
- Health
- Indian Express
Gurugram engineer falls asleep at the wheel, rams into 2 men: How sleeplessness affects your brain
Increasingly, we are hearing reports of people falling asleep while driving with terrible consequences as they hit unsuspecting people and even endanger their own lives. The latest case is of a Gurugram-based civil engineer, who was arrested for ramming into two men, including a law student, after he fell asleep while behind the wheel. Falling asleep at the wheel is a dangerous consequence of a fatigued or sleep-deprived brain. 'When we are sleep-deprived, the brain experiences 'microsleeps' — brief, involuntary episodes of sleep that can last a few seconds. During these moments, a driver can lose awareness and control, even with eyes open. The brain's prefrontal cortex, responsible for attention, decision-making, and alertness, becomes less active, impairing our ability to stay focused or respond quickly to road conditions,' says Dr Vinit Suri, senior consultant, Neurology, Indraprastha Apollo Hospitals, Delhi. The brain's sleep-wake cycle, governed by the circadian rhythm, also plays a critical role. Driving during low circadian alertness periods — such as late at night or early morning — increases the risk of drowsiness. 'Neurochemicals like adenosine, which build up during waking hours, signal sleep pressure to the brain; without rest, this pressure continues to mount, further weakening alertness. The reticular activating system (RAS), which helps keep us awake, starts to underperform when fatigued, making it harder to stay aroused. At the same time, the thalamus — a relay centre for sensory and motor signals — becomes less responsive, reducing awareness of surroundings,' explains Dr Suri. Drowsiness also suppresses activity in the brain's region responsible for vigilance and perception. 'Furthermore, a monotonous driving environment with little stimulation accelerates the decline in brain alertness. In essence, when the brain is too tired, its ability to prioritize staying awake over sleep fails, making it override even conscious efforts to stay alert,' says Dr Suri. A night's lack of sleep of less than six hours has been found to impair vigilance, reduce reaction time and decrease decision-making abilities in a similar way to alcohol consumption, according to Dr Aditya Gupta, Director, Neurosurgery & Cyberknife, Artemis Hospital, Gurugram. What are warning signs? Warning signs like frequent yawning, heavy eyelids, or drifting lanes should never be ignored. 'To prevent such cognitive shutdowns while driving, adequate sleep, regular breaks and avoiding driving during drowsy hours are essential. Fatigue behind the wheel is not a sign of weakness — it is a neurological warning that must be taken seriously,' he says. Patients with obstructive sleep apnoea may also have excessive daytime drowsiness, resulting in naps while driving and hence a history of heavy snoring should be taken, and if required, a sleep study too. What should you watch out for? 'We also caution against too much dependence on stimulants such as coffee or energy drinks. These can give a transient boost to alertness but cannot substitute for the brain's requirement for sleep,' says Dr Gupta. When their action wears off, sleep can hit one suddenly and uncontrollably. To avoid drowsy driving, he suggests getting 7–8 hours of sleep prior to long driving, resting breaks every two hours and not driving during the circadian low points. 'In the event of extreme exhaustion, the only solution is to stop and take a rest,' he adds.
Time of India
17-06-2025
- Health
- Time of India
Pedal for the mind: Cycling linked to lower dementia risk, study finds
NEW DELHI: Individuals who primarily commute by bicycle have a reduced overall risk of developing dementia compared to people who rely on passive transport methods like automobiles, buses, or railways. This was revealed in a study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) Network Open, analysing data related to 4,79,723 participants across 13 years. The authors of the study said, "Our findings suggest that promoting active travel strategies, particularly cycling, may be associated with lower dementia risk among middle-aged and older adults, which carries substantial public health benefits by encouraging accessible, sustainable practices for cognitive health preservation." They said that cycling and mixed-cycling modes were associated with a lower incidence of all-cause dementia, including early-onset, late-onset and Alzheimer's disease. Neurologists confirm that this recent study reinforces their existing understanding of cycling's positive impact on cognitive function and its ability to lower dementia risk. The research indicates that cycling activates various physiological processes that support mental health. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Giao dịch CFD với công nghệ và tốc độ tốt hơn IC Markets Đăng ký Undo Physical activities, including walking, cycling, aerobics, and dancing, all improve brain function. Dr Rajul Aggarwal, director, neurology, Sri Balaji Action Medical Institute, explained that aerobic activities such as cycling boost cerebral blood flow, delivering oxygen and nutrients to crucial brain regions, particularly the hippocampus, which manages learning and memory. Cycling promotes brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) production, a protein that supports synaptic plasticity whilst promoting neuron development and longevity. These processes prevent neurodegeneration, decrease oxidative stress, and reduce beta-amyloid deposits associated with Alzheimer's. Cycling also supports cardiovascular health, reduces inflammation, improves insulin sensitivity, and regulates blood pressure, collectively lowering dementia risk. Global dementia cases are projected to rise from 55 million in 2019 to 139 million by 2050, becoming a major disability factor in elderly people. Young-onset dementia, occurring before 65 years, affects around 3.9 million people globally, requiring more intensive care despite being less frequent than late-onset cases. Dr Vinit Suri, senior neurology consultant, Indraprastha Apollo Hospitals, indicated that young-onset cases represented 5-10% of all dementia diagnoses. He said the affected people were typically aged 45-65 years, occasionally 30-40 years. "Early detection is vital because symptoms can be confused with stress or mental health issues, delaying diagnosis," said Suri. "Young-onset dementia symptoms include memory loss, planning difficulties, personality changes, language issues, and poor judgement. Younger patients may show work performance changes, financial management problems, and social interaction difficulties. Some cases present movement or visual-spatial issues, depending on the cause. Professional assessment is crucial due to symptom overlap with other conditions." Dr Arun Garg, chairman, neurology and neurosciences, Medanta Medicity, listed the main young-onset dementia causes: "Alzheimer's disease (most common, even in younger individuals), frontotemporal dementia (affecting behaviour and language), vascular dementia (due to stroke or reduced blood flow to the brain), Lewy body dementia, genetic factors (mutations in the APP or PSEN genes). Secondary causes like traumatic brain injury, infections (like HIV), or autoimmune diseases. " While dementia typically appears after age 60, younger people increasingly experience strokes due to smoking, alcohol, hypertension, diabetes, air pollution and sleep apnea, pointed out professor Manjari Tripathi, head, neurology, AIIMS. Multiple strokes can lead to vascular cognitive impairment and vascular dementia, the second most common type after Alzheimer's. Tripathi recommended a balanced diet rich in vegetables, fruits, sprouts and legumes.
