Early sleep habits may delay Alzheimer's by decades, expert says

According to Sunway City Consultant Neurologist Dr Mohamad Imran Idris, Alzheimer's-related brain changes begin fifteen to twenty years prior to noticeable dementia, highlighting sleep as a key early defense. Persistent short-night sleep and attempts to compensate with extended weekend rest fail to clear brain inflammation, he said, because deep sleep is essential for waste removal. The doctor identified a U-shaped risk curve, with seven to eight uninterrupted hours offering the best protection, while both insufficient and overly long sleep may indicate emerging disease.

He pointed out that women over 65 are twice as likely as men to develop the condition and that REM Sleep Behaviour Disorder can appear a decade before diagnosis. Malaysia’s health surveys show about ten percent of those over 60 and a third of those over 80 suffer from dementia, but newer blood tests and disease-modifying drugs can now slow progression, he added, alongside lifestyle measures such as cardiovascular care, exercise, cognitive training, and social engagement.