People who struggle to sleep are at a heightened risk of dementia

Experts have long linked both the quality and amount of rest to the memory-depriving illness and US boffins have explained that people with chronic insomnia – which is defined as difficult sleeping at least three days a week for three months – have a 40 per cent greater risk of developing dementia than individuals who do not have the sleep disorder.

Dr Diego Carvalho, a neurologist and sleep medicine expert at the American Academy of Neurology, said: "Insomnia doesn't just affect how you feel the next day – it may also impact your brain health over time.

"We saw a fast decline in thinking skills and changes in the brain that suggest chronic insomnia could be an early warning sign  or even a contributor to future cognitive problems."

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