Latest news with #WChristopherWinter
Yahoo
9 hours ago
- Health
- Yahoo
Scientists Discovered a New Alzheimer's Warning Sign—and It Has to Do With Your Sleep
"Hearst Magazines and Yahoo may earn commission or revenue on some items through these links." Alzheimer's disease is a devastating condition that impacts millions of families around the world. But scientists are still trying to pinpoint the elements that go into why some people develop Alzheimer's disease and others don't. Now, a new study suggests that your sleep patterns may play a role. The study, which was published in the journal Alzheimer's & Dementia, specifically looked at the relationship between REM sleep and Alzheimer's disease. But what's the link between the two and, more importantly, how can you use this information to lower your risk of developing Alzheimer's disease? A neurologist explains. Meet the expert: W. Christopher Winter, MD, a neurologist and sleep medicine physician with Charlottesville Neurology and Sleep Medicine and host of the podcast. What did the study find? For the study, researchers looked at how long it took 123 people to reach rapid eye movement (REM) sleep for the first time after falling asleep, as well as several biomarkers linked to Alzheimer's disease. (REM sleep is a stage of sleep where your eyes move quickly and you dream, per the Cleveland Clinic. It's important for learning and memory, too.) Of the participants, 64 had Alzheimer's disease and 41 had mild cognitive impairment, while the others had normal cognitive function. All of the participants did a sleep study, as well as scans for biomarkers that indicated Alzheimer's. The researchers discovered that people who took longer to get to the REM stage of sleep were more likely to have biomarkers of Alzheimer's disease. Is there a relationship between sleep and Alzheimer's? The relationship between sleep and Alzheimer's disease is still being explored. The Alzheimer's Society notes that people living with dementia tend to have sleep issues, but the evidence is currently unclear on whether poor sleep is a risk factor for the disease. However, some research suggests that poor sleep could raise your risk of Alzheimer's. A study published in November found that 35 percent of people who were considered poor sleepers (and felt excessively tired during the day as a result) went on to develop motoric cognitive risk syndrome (MCR), which is considered a precursor to dementia. 'Poor sleep quality has been linked to Alzheimer's disease,' says W. Christopher Winter, MD, a neurologist and sleep medicine physician with Charlottesville Neurology and Sleep Medicine and host of the podcast. 'Conversely, individuals who sleep well, and get consistent amounts of sleep on a consistent schedule, seem to reduce their risk of cognitive impairment.' Can a lack of REM sleep increase my risk of Alzheimer's? It's hard to say for sure at this point. While the researchers concluded that more studies are needed, they also said a slower movement to REM sleep could serve as a 'potential marker' for Alzheimer's disease. Given that good sleep is linked to good overall health, it can't hurt to try to improve your sleep. How can I get more REM sleep? Most people go through four to six sleep cycles a night, and REM sleep is part of that. Unfortunately, you can't dictate the stages of sleep you enter and when. What you can do is try to focus on getting good sleep, period. Winter offers up these tips to help support good sleep: Have a set bedtime and wake time, and do your best to stick to it. Limit alcohol and caffeine, especially avoiding caffeine later in the day. Try to be physically active, and aim to work out in the mornings to support your body's natural sleep/wake cycle. Create a good, consistent bedtime routine that helps you wind down for the evening. Be wary of sleep aids. 'Ironically, some sleep aids affect REM sleep,' Winter says. How can I reduce my risk of Alzheimer's? Researchers don't know exactly what causes Alzheimer's disease and dementia, making it tough to know for sure how to prevent it. But the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends doing these things to help lower your risk: Be physically active Try to prevent or manage diabetes Manage your blood pressure Try to prevent or correct hearing loss Try to limit or avoid drinking alcohol Try to limit or avoid smoking If you're struggling with sleep, Winter says it's important to consult with a healthcare professional sooner rather than later. They should be able to do a sleep study—which can give you more information on what's behind your sleep issues—and make personalized recommendations from there. You Might Also Like Can Apple Cider Vinegar Lead to Weight Loss? Bobbi Brown Shares Her Top Face-Transforming Makeup Tips for Women Over 50 Solve the daily Crossword
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Health
- Yahoo
Study Reveals the Top Predictor of Heart Disease for Women Over 45
"Hearst Magazines and Yahoo may earn commission or revenue on some items through these links." New research points to poor sleep as a cause of poor heart health in menopausal women. The study analyzed health data from about 3,000 women who participated in the Study of Women's Health Across the Nation. Sleep ended up being the biggest predictor of having a cardiovascular disease event and dying from any cause. The underlying causes of heart disease are varied and complicated, and doctors and scientists are still uncovering all the ways our genetics and lifestyle might affect our heart health. Now, new research published in the journal Menopause suggests that slacking on sleep can actually be a big problem for heart health, especially in menopausal women. What's behind the connection? Top experts in the sleep and cardiovascular fields explain why sleep is so tied to heart health and what this study means for you. Meet the experts: W. Christopher Winter, MD, is a neurologist and sleep medicine physician with Charlottesville Neurology and Sleep Medicine and host of the Sleep Unplugged podcast; Jennifer Wider, MD, is a women's health expert and co-host of the Open Wider podcast; Jessica Shepherd, MD, author of Generation M: Living Well in Perimenopause and Menopause: Samar R. El Khoudary, PhD, MPH, study co-author and a cardiovascular and women's health epidemiologist at the University of Pittsburgh School of Health What did the study find? For the study, researchers analyzed health data from about 3,000 women who participated in the Study of Women's Health Across the Nation (SWAN), which is an ongoing, longitudinal study of midlife women in the US. The researchers specifically looked at scores for Life's Essential 8, a health assessment tool created by the American Heart Association. After crunching the data, the researchers found that four components in Life's Essential 8 (blood glucose, blood pressure, sleep quality, and nicotine use) were the most important factors in predicting participants' future risk of developing cardiovascular disease. But sleep ended up being the biggest predictor of having a cardiovascular disease event and dying from any cause. And those who had better sleep quality had a lower risk of both of these outcomes. 'Midlife sleep quality may uniquely contribute to future event risk,' the researchers wrote in the conclusion. How is sleep related to heart health? There are a few potential factors at play here. 'Poor sleep can lead to inflammation in the body,' says Jennifer Wider, MD, women's health expert and co-host of the Open Wider podcast. 'Research shows that even relatively mild sleep problems can cause inflammation in cells that line the veins in the heart, which could significantly contribute to the development of cardiovascular disease.' But there can be an indirect impact of sleep on heart health, too. 'Lack of sleep may promote poor eating habits which over time can contribute to poor nutrition, diabetes, and heart disease,' Dr. Wider says. Consistent lack of sleep is also linked to high blood pressure, increased risk of heart attack and stroke, poor blood sugar control, and obesity, points out W. Christopher Winter, MD, a neurologist and sleep medicine physician with Charlottesville Neurology and Sleep Medicine and host of the Sleep Unplugged podcast. 'All of these are cardiovascular risk factors,' he says. What is considered 'poor sleep'? In the study, the sleep score was based on participants' responses to three questions about their sleep habits over the past two weeks, focusing on trouble falling asleep, frequent night awakenings, and early morning awakenings with difficulty returning to sleep, explains Samar R. El Khoudary, PhD, MPH, study co-author and a cardiovascular and women's health epidemiologist at the University of Pittsburgh School of Health. Why do menopausal women need to prioritize sleep for heart health? "As cardiovascular disease is the number one killer of women, it is important to protect heart health as much as possible," says Jessica Shepherd, MD, author of Generation M: Living Well in Perimenopause and Menopause. "As menopause affects every middle-aged woman, many post-menopausal women suffer from increased risks for cardiovascular diseases (CVD) and sleep problems." But menopausal women in particular face potential issues with heart health due to declining levels of estrogen, Dr. Wider says. Estrogen is protective of the heart, she explains. As it drops in the body, a woman's risk of developing cardiovascular conditions, including heart disease, increases. "Sleep disturbances are common during the transition," El Khoudary says. "These issues, worsened by hormonal changes, vasomotor symptoms, and other factors, can increase with age and are linked to higher cardiovascular risk." Menopausal women also tend to see a "sharp increased risk" for sleep apnea, which usually leads to worse sleep and a higher risk of heart issues, Dr. Winter says. But Dr. Winter stresses that women shouldn't assume they're doomed to have poor sleep—and potentially developing cardiovascular disease as a result—during menopause. 'This is such a positive place for menopausal women to focus, because it is a variable that can be measured and improved upon,' he says. Ultimately, if you're struggling with sleep, it's a good idea to check in with a healthcare provider. Starting a good treatment plan could do more than make you feel well-rested the next day—it may support better heart health. You Might Also Like Can Apple Cider Vinegar Lead to Weight Loss? Bobbi Brown Shares Her Top Face-Transforming Makeup Tips for Women Over 50
Yahoo
08-07-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
What Your Nightmares May Be Trying to Tell You About Your Health
"Hearst Magazines and Yahoo may earn commission or revenue on some items through these links." New research suggests that there's a link between having regular nightmares and dying early. People who had weekly nightmares were three times as likely to die early as those who had them less often. Doctors say there are a few possible reasons for this. Nearly everyone has a nightmare here and there, but up to 6% of people struggle with frequent nightmares. Not only are those terrifying to experience, but new research suggests having regular nightmares could raise the risk of dying early. The study, which was presented at the European Academy of Neurology Congress 2025, analyzed data from nearly 2,500 children between the ages of 8 and 10, and 183,012 adults between the ages of 26 and 86. The researchers discovered that adults who said that they had weekly nightmares were more than three times more likely to die prematurely (which they defined as before the age of 70) compared to people who said they never or rarely had nightmares. The researchers discovered that having weekly nightmares was more strongly linked with premature death than other well-known risk factors like smoking, having obesity, following a poor diet, and being physically inactive. Meet the experts: W. Christopher Winter, M.D., a neurologist and sleep medicine physician with Charlottesville Neurology and Sleep Medicine and host of the Sleep Unplugged podcast; Thea Gallagher, Psy.D., clinical associate professor at NYU Langone Health and cohost of the Mind in View podcast If you have regular nightmares, it's understandable to be concerned. Here's what sleep specialists and a psychologist want you to keep in mind. There are a few reasons why someone may have nightmares. 'It can stem from stress and anxiety, along with depression,' says Thea Gallagher, Psy.D., clinical associate professor at NYU Langone Health and cohost of the Mind in View podcast. 'Sometimes people get nightmares if they have post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) or post-traumatic stress symptoms.' But there are other things that can be behind nightmares, says W. Christopher Winter, M.D., a neurologist and sleep medicine physician with Charlottesville Neurology and Sleep Medicine and host of the Sleep Unplugged podcast. 'While psychological factors probably play a role, there is emerging evidence that it can also relate to neurotransmitter imbalances—think, depression—or increased activity in the amygdala, a part of our brain responsible for emotional processing,' he says. Nightmares may even be caused by a 'simple sleep disruption of any source,' including sleep apnea, restless leg syndrome, and noisy bedmates, Dr. Winter says. Substance use, eating late, and even certain medications may raise your risk of having nightmares, too, Gallagher says. The researchers didn't find one definitive reason why nightmares might raise the risk of early death, but there are some theories. One is that having regular nightmares leads to faster biological aging—that accounted for about 40% of the higher-than-usual mortality risk, according to the researchers. The reason for this is likely elevated levels of the stress hormone cortisol, which are usually released in the body when someone has a nightmare, the researchers explained. That speeds up the aging process of cells, raising the risk of early death. Lack of sleep that can come with nightmares or be the cause of nightmares may also raise the risk of early death, especially if someone is experiencing this often, Dr. Winter says. 'The link between sleep apnea alone and increased dreaming and nightmares is more than enough by itself to explain the findings in this study,' he says. Dr. Winter points out that nightmares may be a 'marker of sleep quality or health quality' in general. Meaning, the nightmares may not cause poor sleep, poor sleep may cause the nightmares. Gallagher agrees. 'Nightmares may be indicative of underlying mental health and/or medical issues, which we know can put you at risk for premature aging and death,' she says. Having nightmares may even make people want to sleep less, and lack of sleep raises the risk of early death, Dr. Winter points out. 'There is evidence to support the idea that frequent nightmares often put a significant amount of psychological stress on people—they avoid sleep and engage in other behaviors that put health at risk,' he says. Because nightmares have so many different potential causes, Dr. Winter says it can be helpful to work with a healthcare provider to try to pinpoint what's behind them. Some medications, like zolpidem (Ambien) and varenicline (Chantix) are linked to having vivid dreams and nightmares. If you're on one of these and nightmares are a concern, Gallagher says it can be helpful to talk to your prescribing doctor to see if there is another option to consider. Cognitive therapy may also help, especially if the nightmares seem to be related to trauma. 'We want to process the trauma,' Gallagher says. 'It will find a way to scare you in your sleep if you haven't processed it in the daytime.' That usually involves trying to make meaning of these thoughts and memories to try to make them feel less scary by facing them with the help of a mental health professional, Gallagher says. Beyond that, Gallagher suggests doing your best to practice good sleep hygiene, including keeping a consistent sleep and wake schedule, limiting the use of stimulants and alcohol before bed, and having a calming bedtime routine. Again, it's completely normal to have a nightmare here and there. But if these are a regular thing for you and it's disrupting your quality of life, it's time to talk to a healthcare provider about the next steps. You Might Also Like Can Apple Cider Vinegar Lead to Weight Loss? Bobbi Brown Shares Her Top Face-Transforming Makeup Tips for Women Over 50
