Association between slow-wave sleep and brain aging via MRI: Analysis of a community-based sample

Takeaway

  • Reduced slow-wave sleep was associated with markers of brain injury and atrophy on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and may contribute to brain aging.

Why this matters

  • Slow-wave sleep, the deepest sleep stage, is thought to facilitate memory consolidation, energy restoration, and other physiological sleep functions.

  • Studies have shown that the elderly and people with dementia have reduced slow-wave sleep, however, the relationship between the duration and proportion of slow-wave sleep and markers of brain aging on MRI has yet to be reported.