ArcaMax

Almost everyone experiences multiple micro-awakenings as they sleep. They can be caused by street noise, a restless bed partner, changes in bedroom temperature, and anxiety, stress or even sleep apnea. Your brain allows such arousal so that it can scan your environment to check for danger without fully waking you up.

But in middle-age, these short-lived awakenings that shift you out of deep sleep can damage the restorative power of a good night's snooze and trigger multiple changes across your genes that increase your risk for cognitive problems. A study in the journal Sleep found that older middle-aged folks who experience multiple micro-awakenings without being pulled out of sleep-stage muscle paralysis may be more vulnerable to Alzheimer's disease.

That's because micro-awakenings aggravate the locus coeruleus, a place in the brainstem that's involved in wakefulness, attention and sleep regulation. It's one of the first brain regions where deposits of tau, associated with AD, appear -- long before symptoms are obvious.

If you're not aware of micro-awakening, how can you protect yourself from the damage they may do?

Use exercise, meditation, social support and talk therapy to manage stress and anxiety. Reduce your intake of alcohol. Make your bedroom dark, quiet and cool. Talk to your doctor about managing chronic pain and get medical attention for restless leg syndrome and sleep apnea. Also, if needed, ask about hormone therapy to treat micro-wakefulness associated with perimenopause and menopause.

For more help, visit LifeSpan-Edge.com to discover how therapeutic plasma exchange may rid your body of the culprits that lead to dementia and AD.

Health pioneer Michael Roizen, M.D., is chief wellness officer emeritus at the Cleveland Clinic and author of four No. 1 New York Times bestsellers. Check out his latest, "The Great Age Reboot: Cracking the Longevity Code for a Younger Tomorrow," and find out more at www.4YOUngevity.com. Email your health and wellness questions to Dr. Mike at drmikerealage@gmail.com.

(c)2026 Michael Roizen, M.D.

Distributed by King Features Syndicate, Inc.

(c) 2026 Michael Roizen, M.D. Distributed by King Features Syndicate, Inc.