Washington, July 29 (QNA) - Sleep disorders may do more than leave people feeling tired, with new US research linking them to structural changes in brain regions involved in attention, decision-making and emotional regulation.
Researchers at Florida International University analyzed data from 57 previously published neuroimaging studies, making it one of the most comprehensive reviews to date examining how different sleep disorders affect brain structure. The findings were published in the journal Scientific Reports.
The analysis found that sleep disorders were consistently associated with structural changes in the thalamus, a brain region that plays a central role in attention, sensory processing and higher cognitive functions. The researchers also identified changes in the posterior cingulate cortex among people with parasomnias, a group of disorders that includes sleepwalking and night terrors. These changes may help explain problems with emotional regulation, motivation and decision-making observed in some patients.
The researchers said the findings could explain why people with sleep disorders often experience impaired concentration, slower decision-making and mood disturbances, all of which may increase the risk of mistakes and accidents, particularly among older adults.
"By bringing together results from many studies, this research gives us a clearer picture of how sleep disorders affect brain structure and function and where we need to focus next," said Matthew T. Sutherland, a cognitive neuroscientist at Florida International University and the study's senior author.
The research team said the findings could help guide the development of earlier diagnostic tools and more targeted, personalized treatments aimed at protecting brain functions involved in attention, decision-making and emotional regulation. (QNA)