One of the easiest ways to try and ward off Alzheimer’s disease or some other form of dementia is by going to bed early, according to Sara Mednick, professor of cognitive science at the University of California Irvine. She tells AARP The Magazine (April/May 2022, page 38) that we should all be in bed by 10:00 p.m. “The earlier you get to sleep, the more slow-wave sleep you’ll get,” says professor Mednick, the author of The Power of the Down State. Slow-wave Sleep connections between areas of the brain to create stronger memories. However, SWS goes by the circadian clock and peters out at about 1:00 a.m. Regular readers of my blog know that both my grandmother and my father had this terrible disease when they passed away. There is a great group of people at the Alzheimer’s Association in Ryan Ranch who are there to help you. They also have a 24-hour hotline at 1-800-272-3900.
