Troubled sleep? Unable to sleep all night? Well, you have not been stuck alone in this whirlpool. Deprivation of sleep is relatively prevalent in American Society. The CDC has called it a “public health epidemic.” But that was before the pandemic hit the world. An increasing number of Native Americans are going through substandard sleep patterns, particularly after the pandemic, because of escalated anxiety, depression, weight gain, and other issues. It can be mentally detrimental as sleep disorders can adversely affect the brain, a person’s cognitive performance, and mental health.
In this blog we will take a detailed look at some of the most commonly occurring sleeping problems and their after-effects on the human brain, mind and mental activity, and wellness. Authentic research studies have shown that a spectrum of sleep issues affect the brain, cognitive performance, and mental health.
Essential Brain Functions That Transpire During Sleep
As much as food and water are essential, sleep is an equally fundamental biological need. Good sleep is crucial for an individual’s mental well-being, brain health, and cognitive functioning. During sleep, our brain performs different essential functions. For instance, according to current research, it has been observed that sleep is engaged in learning and memory consolidation.
A study published in 2019 concluded that the brain takes a wash of itself and clears all the harmful and metabolic products accumulated with each passing day. The neural debris, which gets eliminated, includes misfolded proteins. These proteins affect aging and neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s.
The neural waste removal system encompasses two proteins. One is known as Beta-amyloid, and the second is known as “Tau.”. Both of these proteins clump together to make the plaques and tangles around. They are supposed to be one of the reasons behind Alzheimer’s disease.
How Sleep Deprivation Leaves a Detrimental Effect on Brain Function
Adults require 8 to 10 hours of sleep each night. A depletion of proper sleep may lead to poor effects on the brain. It will need help to pull off its critical memory, learning, and neural waste functions. According to a study published in 2018, sleepless nights can result in a subsequent buildup of beta-amyloid proteins, which is also one of the reasons for Alzheimer’s disease.
In the Journal of Neuroscience, a functional brain-imaging analysis noticed that deprivation of good sleep could interfere with the junctional connection between the prefrontal cortex and limbic system of the brain. The prefrontal cortex manages executive functions like planning, judgment, and control of impulses. At the same time, the brain’s limbic system controls emotion-centric activities.
The researchers have summarized that this eventually results in impairments in executive function (planning and judgment), an escalated response to different rewarding stimuli, and increased emotional responses. The final result is disturbed, irregular, frustrated behavior and a lack of sound judgment.
Sleep deprivation badly affects cognitive functioning too. According to a research study published in Neuropsychiatric Disease and Treatment Journal, a lack of sleep compromises working memory and attention. Additionally, sleep deprivation also affects long-term memory and can negatively impact a person’s decision-making skills.
Sleep Disorders and Mental Health/Well-being
Sleep disorders are primarily associated with mental health issues. Patients with psychiatric conditions have higher chances of having or experiencing sleep issues. Adults who have difficulty sleeping are also prone to developing sleep disorders. One night of turning and tossing can potentially escalate the chances of feeling anger, irritability, anxiety, stress, sadness, and gloom the next day.
As time passes, sleep disorders can aggravate the risk of depression, ADD/ADHD, panic attacks, brain fog, psychosis, memory problems, and dementia. Scientific American Journal reported alarming and daunting statistics that teenagers and young individuals who only sleep lesser than one hour every night almost constitute 40% of the population.
A large portion of these individuals is dejected, depression-ridden, and hopeless. The rest can be suicidal; they often attempt suicide, and the remaining lot get entangled in fatal pursuits like drug or substance abuse. Another study published in 2019 in the American Journal of Public Health stated that there is almost a 40% higher risk of depression among shift workers if we draw a comparison with the general population.
Four Common Sleep Disorders and their effects on Brain/ Mental Health
The following are four common sleep disorders that can negatively impact an individual’s brain functioning and mental well-being.
- Insomnia
- Obstructive Sleep Apnea
- Hypersomnia
- Circadian Rhythm Disorders
Insomnia
If you are having trouble sleeping or staying asleep, you might have insomnia. This is a common sleep disorder and affects, on average, almost 40% of the American population. Insomnia often manifests in people already suffering from mental health issues. For instance, nearly 75% of people are dealing with depression, of which 50% are simultaneously suffering from sleep disorders. When a patient goes through a manic phase, particularly bipolar disorder, on average, around 70% of patients go through insomnia or a reduced need for sleep.
Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA)
Obstructive Sleep Apnea is when an individual snores with a louder pitch and stops breathing variously during night hours. They will feel drained and sluggish during the day. A constant cycle like this will deteriorate their mental well-being and brain health. In the Journal of Clinical Psychiatry, a study published that patients suffering from sleep apnea are more likely to suffer from depression.
According to other research, third-grade sleep apnea can amplify the risk of developing depression. In 2016, a published study revealed that in such patients, the chances of having dementia are also higher. When doctors conduct brain SPECT imaging scans, which measure the brain’s blood flow and functional activity, sleep apnea usually depicts decreased blood flow, and the developing pattern is more or less the same as in the initial Alzheimer’s disease stages. In OSA, the brain’s hippocampal region shrinks, resulting in brain atrophy.
Hypersomnia
Some individuals sleep excessively and feel equally sluggish and zoned out during working hours. They also can feel the need to take multiple naps. Nevertheless, these individuals don’t feel rejuvenated and alert even after taking and enjoying extensive sleep hours. They keep on struggling with waking up. Hypersomnia can be due to sleep apnea or narcolepsy and results in anxiety, irritability, slowed thinking, memory problems, and sometimes hallucinations. Research in Frontiers in Neurology reported that narcolepsy decreases orexin neurons. It is a neuron that manages critical bodily functions such as sleep-wake cycles, cognitive functioning, and mood regulation.
Circadian Rhythm Disorders
Circadian Rhythm Disorders usually occur when your body intervenes with your regular sleep timings. The in-built clock of the body tries to schedule its sleep-wake cycle depending on the environment. It can make you sleepy and dizzy when it is dark outside and wake you up early as soon as the sun rises. Any disturbances to this sleep-wake cycle can disrupt the quality of good sleep. Jet lag, working in shifts, aging, and other factors can result in circadian rhythm disorders. They are associated with memory issues, bad-decision making skills, and decreased alertness.
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Conclusion
Do not put sleep disorders, depression, anxiety, and other mental health issues on hold. Head to a lung and sleep center in Michigan and consult an expert doctor today. We offer brain imaging and scanning services and provide mental well-being programs. We also offer clinical evaluations and cognitive therapy for adults and children.
