Julia Yellow
IN THE week that the Nobel Prize was deservedly awarded to biologists working on the circadian clock, the importance of their research to life and health has come into even sharper focus. It turns out that regularly failing to get adequate sleep puts us at greater risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease. A single night of poor slumber is enough to see damaging effects in the brain (see “Wake-up call: How a lack of sleep can cause Alzheimer’s“). This is worrying news for all of us.
The cult of busyness now rules, burning the candle at both ends has become a badge of honour. English does not yet have an equivalent of the Japanese word inemuri – falling asleep in meetings, which is considered an honourable sign of dedication to the cause – but may need one sooner rather than later.
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We ignore the link between sleep and dementia at our peril, not just as individuals but as societies. Alzheimer’s is a dreadful condition that will exact a huge burden on health and social care systems. Governments have a duty to protect citizens and foster their well-being. The promotion of adequate sleep must become a priority, lest we sleepwalk our way into a public health crisis.
This article appeared in print under the headline “Sleepwalking to disaster”
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