19 - Sleep

Summary

Sleep is incredibly important for the creation and maintenance of memories. It is an active process managed by the brain to allow for bodily rest and repair and maintenance of homeostasis. Good sleep is necessary for life and health and is essential for the encoding and storage or memories made during wakefulness. Poor sleep can interfere with all aspects of cognitive function, particularly attention and memory. Reduced sleep amount and quality has been linked to depression and impaired immune function. The length of sleep is not the only important factor; the quality of sleep is also vital. Animal studies have revealed that sleep deprivation damages gut bacteria and produces hazardous free radicals, called oxidative stress. Cognitive reserve is closely related to sleep. Too many people take sleep for granted or think getting a restful sleep is a luxury, not a necessity. But recent research shows the pattern on neuronal firing is replayed during sleep, which enhances the formation of memories. Older people frequently have sleeping problems that may impact the quality of life. This chapter reviews several things that you can do to improve the quality of your sleep.