Poor sleep may lead to higher risk of dementia, scientists find

Poor sleep – which includes having difficulty falling or staying asleep – may lead to a higher risk of dementia later in life, scientists find - (Getty Images)

People who have difficulties falling or staying asleep may have a higher risk of developing dementia later in life, scientists have found.

Scans of nearly 600 middle-aged people showed sleeping badly aged the brain by nearly three years and was associated with poorer brain health years later – despite adjusting for factors such as age, sex, high blood pressure and diabetes.