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Study expands the science on the link between sleep and dementia [Video]

If you find yourself sleepy during your daily activities in your older age, you may need to consider it more than an inconvenience since the fatigue may indicate you're at higher risk for developing a condition that can lead to dementia, a new study has found.Among participants who experienced excessive daytime sleepiness and a lack of enthusiasm, 35.5% developed motoric cognitive risk syndrome compared with 6.7% of people without those problems, according to the study published Wednesday in the journal Neurology.Motoric cognitive risk syndrome, or MCR, is marked by slow walking speed and complaints of memory problems among older people who don't already have dementia or a mobility disability. The risk of developing dementia more than doubles in those with this syndrome, which was first described in 2013."Previous studies have shown a link between sleep disorders and the risk of dementia," said first study author Dr. Victoire Leroy, assistant professor of geriatric medicine at Tours University Hospital in France, via email.But, some of those scientific reports examined that link largely at only one point in time, according to the study. Not much has been known about the relationship between certain aspects of poor-quality sleep and pre-dementia syndromes, either, Leroy and the research team wrote so they wanted to expand the research in this field."Establishing the relationship between sleep dysfunction and MCR risk is important because early intervention may offer the best hope for preventing dementia," the authors said.Tracking sleep patternsThe findings are based on 445 adults who were age 76 on average and recruited from New York's Westchester County for the Central Control of Mobility and Aging study, which assesses the cognitive processes and brain mechanisms that regulate mobility in aging. Participants walked on treadmills so their initial gaits could be recorded, then were assessed annually from 2011 to 2018.The study authors also collected yearly data on participants' recollections of their sleep quality and quantity in the two weeks leading up to the assessments. Specifically, the team gleaned details within seven components of the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index: subjective sleep quality, time it takes to fall asleep, sleep duration, sleep efficiency (ratio of total hours asleep to total hours in bed), sleep disturbances, use of sleep-inducing medication, and daytime dysfunction, such as having trouble staying awake during activities or feeling less enthusiasm to get things done.Over a follow-up period of roughly three years on average, 36 participants developed motoric cognitive risk syndrome. Compared with "good" sleepers, "poor" sleepers had only a slightly higher risk of MCR. But when the authors considered the seven sleep components separately, only daytime dysfunction was associated with 3.3 times higher risk of MCR.The study findings may help physicians and patients be more open to asking questions about sleep patterns and to looking more closely at walking speed when making an early diagnosis, said Dr. Richard Isaacson, director of research at the Institute for Neurodegenerative Diseases in Florida. Richardson wasn't involved in the study.Sleep's link to brain declineThe study has a few "serious" limitations, said Dr. Tara Spires-Jones, professor of neurodegeneration and director of the Centre for Discovery Brain Sciences at the University of Edinburgh in Scotland, via email."The sleep measurements were self-reported, not measured by a scientist, and these self-reports could be biased by people with memory issues," said Spires-Jones, who wasn't involved in the study. "The participants in the study were also largely white, and the group was much smaller than similar single-timepoint studies, so the results will be stronger if confirmed in future studies."The authors acknowledged that while the length of their study, at roughly three years, is longer than that of some previous research, the follow-up period is still short.Motoric cognitive risk syndrome is newly identified, so experts still have a lot to learn before they can explain in detail what causes it and how it affects the body, Isaacson said. This is complicated by the lack of "definitive pathological biomarkers" for MCR thus far, Isaacson said.But "several mechanisms might explain this association," Leroy said. "Sleep plays a role in 'cleaning up' neurotoxins accumulated in the brain. In addition, previous studies have shown a greater accumulation of proteins associated with Alzheimer's disease in sleep-deprived individuals."One possible alternative or additive way is through the activation of brain inflammatory response, which is observed in Alzheimer's disease and related dementias," Leroy said.It's unclear why out of seven sleep components, daytime dysfunction was the only one significantly associated with MCR risk when one might think that the other six components which included sleep quality and quantity would play a role in daytime dysfunction, experts said.Spires-Jones pointed out that for the potential link between daytime dysfunction and MCR, reverse causation is also possible."Scientific evidence is suggesting that when you are in the early stages of dementia, pathological changes in the brain disrupt sleep," she added meaning it's "likely the early disease causing sleep disruption, not disruption causing disease."It's well known that sleep disturbances such as REM sleep behavior disorder can be early predictors of conditions including Lewy body dementia or Parkinson's disease, Isaacson said.Monitoring sleep health in agingThe study results show how precious sleep is, Leroy said.People having trouble with their sleep should talk to their doctors, consider completing a sleep questionnaire, and discuss whether an at-home or in-hospital sleep study may be helpful, Isaacson said."There are now many treatments, both drug and non-drug approaches, that may be able to help depending on the exact problem found," he added. "Treating sleep disturbances should pay dividends for many years, even decades, on overall brain health and dementia prevention."You can take other measures to protect your brain during aging."Living a healthy lifestyle, including eating well, maintaining a healthy weight, keeping your body and brain active, and treating any hearing loss are all ways of boosting brain resilience and likely lowering dementia risk," Spires-Jones said."This is not to blame people who have dementia for their lifestyle choices," she added. "Best estimates indicate that less than half of the risk of dementia is due to this type of modifiable risk factor with the rest of the risk likely due to genes we inherit."However, given the potential to modify your risk and the growth of medical research and treatments, Spires-Jones added, there is reason to be hopeful.If you're already experiencing mobility issues, fall prevention can help, Isaacson said that can include physical and occupational therapy evaluation, and at-home adaptations such as installing bars in the shower, removing clutter and using nightlights.

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Resources for Physical Therapists

Asking ChatGPT about a Physical Therapy Business Idea [Video]

Hey everyone! Tony Maritato here. In this video, I’m diving into a new business model idea for creators on YouTube, specifically for those who collaborate with product companies. I’m exploring whether it’s better to charge companies directly for video creation or to encourage them to use their Google ad accounts to run ads on the videos I make for them. Why? Because YouTube pays 55% of ad revenue spent on Google ads, which could offer a scalable, ongoing revenue stream. We’ll cover the pros and cons of both models: Direct Payment: Secure, predictable income with full control over rates but limited upside if the video performs exceptionally well. Ad Spend Model: Potentially recurring revenue based on ad spend, increased video reach, and the chance to scale earnings, though with less control and quality variability in traffic. There’s also a hybrid option – charging a smaller fee upfront and encouraging ad spend on top. This approach could balance immediate income with ongoing passive revenue. Join me as I brainstorm this with ChatGPT-4 and weigh the possibilities! Drop your thoughts in the comments. Would you take an upfront payment, rely on ad spend, or blend the two? Let's figure it out together. 0:00 - Intro: Exploring a New YouTube Business Model 0:20 - Charging Product Companies Directly vs. Ad Spend 1:30 - Pros and Cons of Direct Payment for Video Creation 3:40 - Benefits and Drawbacks of Ad Spend on Product Videos 5:50 - Hybrid Model: Balancing Payment with Ad Spend 7:05 - Conclusion & Feedback Request: What Do You Think? 🔗 Connect with Anthony Maritato Website: www.choosept1st.com LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/anthony-maritato/ Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/choosept1st/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/anthony.maritato.73 About Me: Hi! My name is Tony Maritato, PT, and I am a physical therapist and practice owner. I created this channel, @LearnMedicareBilling, to help physical therapists, occupational therapists, and speech-language pathologists navigate the complexities of Medicare billing and reimbursement. My goal is to demystify the process and provide practical insights to help you succeed in your practice. Over the years, I've expanded the channel to cover a wide range of topics related to private practice management and growth. From starting your own practice to optimizing your billing processes, you'll find valuable content designed to support your professional journey. Please subscribe and join our community of dedicated therapists! If you would like to mail me: Total Therapy Solutions 5900 Long Meadow Dr Middletown, OH 45005 #physicaltherapymedicare #occupationaltherapymedicare #speechtherapymedicare #privatepracticegrowth #medicarebilling [: Want to Sponsor This Channel? :] I'm excited to offer sponsorship opportunities on the @LearnMedicareBilling YouTube channel, which focuses on private practice growth and development for PT, OT, and SLP professionals. With nearly 10,000 subscribers, our audience consists of engaged healthcare providers and business owners seeking expert advice on navigating the complexities of Medicare billing and reimbursement. Why Sponsor Us? Gain exposure to a targeted audience of decision-makers in the healthcare industry who are looking for solutions and tools to grow their practices. Sponsorship and Ad Placements Available: 👉 Product shout-outs and reviews: $300 👉 Sponsored segments within videos: $250 👉 Banner ads and logo placements: $250 👉 Custom integrations tailored to your brand's needs: Let's Discuss Let’s collaborate and help your brand reach the right audience! Contact Information: Email: tony@totaltherapysolutions.com