Lack of deep sleep could increase risk of stroke, Alzheimer’s: Study

Yes, there is some evidence to suggest that a lack of deep sleep could increase the risk of stroke and Alzheimer's disease.

Deep sleep, also known as slow-wave sleep, is an important stage of sleep where the brain processes memories and performs other restorative functions. Researchers have found that people who get less deep sleep are more likely to have a buildup of amyloid beta, a protein that forms plaques in the brains of people with Alzheimer's disease.

In addition, a study published in the journal Stroke found that people who got less deep sleep were more likely to have a stroke or other cardiovascular events. The study followed more than 1,600 adults over the age of 70 for an average of six years, and found that those who spent less than 5% of their sleep time in deep sleep were more than twice as likely to have a stroke or other cardiovascular event compared to those who spent more than 5% of their sleep time in deep sleep.

While more research is needed to fully understand the link between deep sleep and these health outcomes, these findings suggest that getting enough deep sleep may be an important factor in maintaining brain and cardiovascular health.