Streaming our favourite shows has become a nighttime routine for many, especially as the days are getting busier. And with bingeing being an option, people are often forced to choose between watching one more episode or getting the required hours of sleep.
“From a neurological perspective, it is important to remember that sleep is not simply a period of rest for the brain,” stated Dr Nair. “Different stages of sleep support memory consolidation, learning, attention, emotional regulation and the normal functioning of neural networks.”
As a result, by the time a person finally decides to sleep, the brain may still be in a state of alertness and stimulation rather than gradually winding down. Because sleep contributes to the brain’s processes of memory consolidation and synaptic regulation, and there is growing interest in the role of healthy sleep in maintaining long-term brain health, as per Dr Nair, regular sleep disruption should be taken seriously. He explained that when sleep is repeatedly shortened or fragmented, the effects can show up the very next day as poorer concentration, slower thinking, reduced alertness, impaired memory and irritability. The neurologist pointed out that the transition from wakefulness to sleep is a biological process, and giving the brain some time to disengage is useful. they are another reason why chronic sleep disruption should not be dismissed as simply a lifestyle habit While these are associations and do not mean that watching television at night causes dementia.
“Persistent insomnia, poor sleep quality and abnormal sleep duration are associated with poorer cognitive performance and, in longitudinal studies, a higher risk of cognitive decline and dementia,” he stated.
