A new study from researchers at Binghamton University suggests that the brain’s response to poor sleep may differ depending on age and sex. Published in Neurobiology of Aging, the study examined brain scans from more than 1,300 adults to understand how sleep quality affects communication between brain networks.

The researchers found that younger adults with poor sleep showed increased connectivity in brain regions linked to movement, suggesting a state of physical hyperarousal that may make it harder to fall asleep. In adults aged 65 and older, these regions showed reduced connectivity, while areas involved in cognition displayed increased communication.

The strongest differences were observed in older women, where poor sleep was associated with increased connectivity between the Default Mode Network, involved in memory and internal thought, and the Frontal Parietal Network, which supports attention and working memory. This pattern was linked to poorer memory performance and resembles connectivity changes associated with early Alzheimer's disease.

Researchers noted that it remains unclear whether disrupted sleep causes these brain changes or results from them. The findings highlight the importance of addressing sleep problems across the lifespan and suggest that strategies may need to differ for younger and older adults.

Source: https://www.binghamton.edu/news/story/6354/study-poor-quality-sleep-involves-different-parts-of-the-brain-depending-on-age